Mental health professionals express concern over suicide rate, cannabis use

Marta Rivera Plaza, chief executive officer of the San Juan Capestrano Hospital System

By The Star Staff

Mental health professionals who attended the annual convention of the medical faculty of the San Juan Capestrano Hospital System over the weekend expressed concern about the increase in suicides on the island and the way and manner in which some branches of government claim responsibility for the normalization of cannabis use.

Presentations at the convention covered topics such as mental health in pregnant women, suicide prevention and the role of primary care physician in helping with the diagnosis and referral of a patient with a mental condition.

The convention’s objective was to discuss the innovations and results of new methods in the practice of professionals working in the mental health industry.

“Sharing with doctors from all over Puerto Rico […] allowed us to discuss the new trends in how to manage mental health and at the same time to join efforts to care for people who have symptoms or mental disorders,” said Marta Rivera Plaza, chief executive officer of the San Juan Capestrano Hospital System. “It was possible to conclude that the feeling in our country is for the search for better mental health services.”

Participants expressed their concern with the turn that the discussion of the issue of cannabis has taken in all spheres. There was consensus that the use of marijuana derivatives, now marketed as “cannabis” should never be allowed for adolescents or children, since it is scientifically proven that they are addictive.

“Similarly, the statistics on suicide are alarming to the point of knowing that 98% of people who attempted suicide do not actually want to die; 93% of suicides can be prevented, avoided,” Rivera Plaza said. “As part of its commitment to mental health in Puerto Rico, the San Juan Capestrano Hospital System has always supported asking the primary or family doctor to help diagnose any mental health condition or any sign of suicide attempt, since they are the ones who on multiple occasions become the first health professional to contact a person with symptoms of mental health problems.”