Talk about suicide was held at the Universidad del Azuay

On Thursday 29 in March, a psychoeducational talk on youth and adult suicide was held in the multipurpose room of the University of Azuay. The presentation, which lasted approximately one hour, was conducted by Dr. María Fernanda Vintimilla, a psychologist belonging to the Santa Ana Cemetery and an expert in the treatment of people who have lost loved ones.

"This talk is not aimed at anyone in particular, but I hope it serves you and that it can help you to help people around you," said the psychologist in the first minutes.

The presentation was attended by 40 students from the Faculty of Philosophy of the University and focused mainly on the family aspect that revolves around suicide. The importance of the family as a support for people suffering from depression and the consequences it has for a family nucleus that one of its members has taken their lives was highlighted.

The organization of the event was due to the joint work between the Department of Student Welfare MiUDA of the University of Azuay and the Camposanto Santa Ana.

Fernanda Acitimbay, member of the Department of Counseling of the University and in charge of the organization of the talk, said that "the objective is to make the students aware and help them academically and emotionally so that they develop and have more knowledge about what is going to be treated today. "

The psychologist Vintimilla asked the attendees a series of questions to encourage the active participation of her audience. "Who has lost a loved one?" and "Who is afraid of death and why?" They were questions asked by the psychologist that motivated interventions by the students.

Strategies were also provided for the public to learn how to handle a situation in which they find themselves facing someone who wants to take their own lives. Speaking straight and direct, showing him that he is not alone and making him wonder what would happen to his family if he were no longer the main advice given by Vintimilla.

Given the growing number of suicides in Cuenca, according to data presented in the same talk, both the University of Azuay and the Santa Ana Camposanto have a psychological department that can treat cases of people with suicidal intentions that is available to university students.