The national suicide prevention number 3114 has received 34,000 calls since its launch four months ago, according to figures from the Ministry of Health released on Friday February 4, on the eve of National Suicide Prevention Day. There were two peaks, “around the end of the year celebrations, and after the passage of Stromae” in the 20 hour newspaper of TF1. During this televised passage, the Belgian singer had unveiled Hell, title of his future album evoking “suicidal thoughts”. From 10 to 15% of these calls resulted in Samu being taken care of, the same source told AFP.
Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, this free national number is dedicated to people with suicidal thoughts, but also to their loved ones and to those bereaved by suicide. The 169 respondents are hospital professionals, supervised by psychiatrists. Currently, there are eleven centers in the regions, others are to come this year. The 3114 will soon be enriched with a “chat” service.
With approximately 9,000 suicides per year, France presents “one of the highest rates in Europe”, according to Public Health France. This average high dates from before Covid-19. Corn “the health crisis has acted as a catalyst for mental health problems, particularly among certain specific groups such as young people”, notes the ministry in a press release. According to the latest delivery of the Coviprev study initiated by Public Health France, 9% of French people have had suicidal thoughts during the year, a high level, four points higher than the level outside the epidemic.
The 3114, launched six months earlier than expected in the face of the health situation, has completed an arsenal of devices, such as VigilanS, created in 2015, which monitors people who have attempted suicide, measures to prevent “suicidal contagion” or training courses, renovated in 2019.
Suicide prevention is a priority for the ministry, which included it in its “mental health and psychiatry” roadmap for 2018, insists Olivier Véran’s cabinet. And the Ségur de la santé confirmed the commissioning of the national number. During the Assizes of mental health and psychiatry, at the end of September 2021, Emmanuel Macron announced a series of measures for a sector which had said to itself “on the verge of implosion”, without completely satisfying the actors.
If you need help, if you are worried or if you are confronted with the suicide of a member of your entourage, you can reach 3114 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Suicide listening line can also be reached on 01 45 39 40 00. Other information is also available on the website of the Ministry of Solidarity and Health.