Public Policies for making the right to life effective: The problem of suicide at ‘Third Bridge'

Abstract

Abstract The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes suicide as a public health priority. According to the same, between 2010 and 2016 the suicide rate in Brazil increased about 7%, in contrast to the world index, wich fell 9,8%. In the state of Espírito Santo - ES (estimated population of 4 million people), the number of suicide events reached 233 in 2018, the highest rate ever recorded by Datasus Mortality Monitoring Panel to the state. Suicides on public venues are noteworthy. According to data from the Rodovia do Sol Concessionaire (Rodosol), in 2018 about 41% of suicides in this state occured in metropolitan region of Vitória (estimated population of 2 million people). In Deputado Darcy Castello de Mendonça bridge, popularly known as Third Bridge, 71 attemps were counted, of wich 7 culminated in suicide. As a point of concern, this bridge, main link between the cities of Vitória and Vila Velha, has a contingency plan for emergency and crisis situations since 2016, in addition to cameras monitored by a prepared team that work together with a firefighter's team allocated near the bridge to intervene at any time of the day. The monitoring of the situation makes it possible to verify that, since 1999, the suicides that have occurred add up to lower rates in relation to the attempts. However, there was an increase of approximately 44% in the number of people who attempted suicide in the period from 2015 to 2018. Knowing that interventions to prevent suicide include reducing access to lethal means, it stands out that in 2019 a plan to build a protection net in Third Bridge was approved by the government. These strategies, combined to provided health care from the State Hospital of Clinical Attention and suicide preventive measures from public healthcare system SUS, are in accordance with Brazilian's public health policies. It is a recognition, by the state, that the life of the individual has a public significance, and should be protected even from the individual itself. Key messages Interventions to prevent suicide must include reducing access to lethal means, that is knowingly a highly effective preventive practice and is responsibility of public policies of a country/state. Knowing that life has a public and political dimension, the suicide barrier implementation is necessary for the State to fulfill its duty to protect the life of the citizen.