Line 024: “Call to life”

On May 10, 2022, Line 024 was presented by the Minister of Health, Carolina Darias, under the motto “Call to life”, a Suicidal Behavior Assistance number that will be operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

This telephone number, responsible for early detection or suicidal behavior plans, is a free, accessible, anonymous, confidential service run by a team of 26 operators and 11 supervisors who are experts in managing interventions with people at risk of suicidal behavior. The person in charge of directing this project, Fátima Cabello, deputy director of Health at the Red Cross, explains that the objective of this initiative is to offer a high-quality service to this serious public health problem.

Furthermore, this number is not only available for people who have suicidal thoughts, but also for those who need information on the subject and for the people around them. The president of the Mental Health Conference of Spain, Nel González Zapico, explains that “Knowing that there is something that will guide us and support us is essential”. Furthermore, it confirms that "the simple fact of being listened to, of being attended to, even by telephone, already gives rise to a different attitude."

Suicide is the leading cause of external death in Spain. According to the INE, in 2020, 3,491 deaths by suicide were recorded, 7.4 more than in 2019. Worldwide, more than 700,000 people die from suicide each year, according to the WHO.

In its first 24 hours of operation, 1,000 calls were already received

You learn to care by caring, which is why Fraternidad-Muprespa supports the Mental Health Action Plan project of the Ministry of Health. La Mutua has been committed to emotional well-being and awareness of mental health for several years now:

• Since 2014, content on this topic has been disseminated in the Fraternidad-Muprespa's Own Prevention Service (SPP) blog.
• As a novelty, the Clinical Psychology unit to the SPP in order to address the needs of employees from within the organization itself and adaptability difficulties in the personal and work field, to help develop tools and skills for more optimal management of the lives of workers.
• Courses have been created and training provided to all employees of the mutual insurance company to understand mental health.