First Lady Launches Free Mental Health Platform on Suicide Prevention Day
Ana Lucia Pineda, Colombia’s first lady and wife of President Abelardo de la Espriella, used World Suicide Prevention Day to present an initiative aimed at making mental health care more accessible. Called “Un Corazon Contigo,” (A Heart with You, in English) the initiative is a free platform that connects people going through difficult times with professionals willing to listen, provide guidance, and offer support.
The platform was launched last Thursday, September 10, on a date that each year draws attention to an issue that continues to claim thousands of lives in Colombia. According to the latest official figures from the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE), 3,066 suicides were recorded in the country in 2024, equivalent to more than eight deaths a day.
First lady launches free mental health platform on suicide prevention day
During the presentation of the initiative, Ana Lucia Pineda stressed that going through a difficult emotional situation should not mean facing it alone. Her office promoted “Un Corazon Contigo,” a platform created to provide free access to professionals who can offer guidance and support.
According to information provided by the first lady, the initiative brings together more than 400 professionals who are available to respond to requests made through the portal. Citizens can visit uncorazoncontigo.com and request an appointment with the professional they need.
The proposal seeks to become an alternative for people experiencing anguish, emotional pain, or other situations that may affect their mental health. The goal, Pineda explained, is to provide an initial gateway to professional listening and support.
“Asking for help does not make you weak; it makes you brave,” was one of the first lady’s central messages during the launch. Pineda also urged family members, friends, and those close to people who may be going through especially difficult times to pay attention to them.
Colombia records more than 3,000 suicides a year
The announcement takes on particular significance given the figures recorded in Colombia. The latest consolidated DANE data show that 3,066 suicides occurred in the country in 2024, 235 fewer than in 2023. Last year, according to the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences, 2,823 people decided to end their lives in the country.
Although the decline from the previous year represents a reduction, the problem continues to have a significant public health dimension. In addition, statistics show that suicide particularly affects young and adult men — in 2025, there were 2,209 cases compared with 614 among women — although it occurs across different age groups.
Data on suicide attempts also reflect the scale of the phenomenon. The National Institute of Health reported 38,770 notified suicide attempts in 2024, a figure showing that the number of people experiencing a suicidal crisis is considerably higher than the number who ultimately die.
The World Health Organization estimates that more than 720,000 people die by suicide each year worldwide and considers this behavior a major public health problem. It also warns that suicide is the third leading cause of death among people ages 15 to 29.
Mental health and the importance of seeking help early
The launch of “Un Corazon Contigo” also comes at a time when Colombia is facing different factors that can deepen the emotional impact on some communities. Pineda referred to the painful situations that tragedies can cause and noted that after particularly difficult experiences, people may need greater support.
The initiative is specifically intended to offer an alternative for those who have difficulty accessing mental health services or simply need someone to listen before an emotional situation worsens.
During the presentation, Magda Lopez, one of the project’s spokespersons, said that even when a circumstance seems overwhelming, there are possibilities for finding support and people willing to offer companionship.
The first lady’s message focused on breaking the silence surrounding mental health. The intention is for seeking help to stop being viewed as a sign of weakness and instead become a normal decision when facing a situation that requires attention.
“Supporting others is also caring, listening is also healing, and being present is also transforming lives,” Pineda said.
A problem that does not end on September 10
World Suicide Prevention Day seeks to raise awareness, but the issue extends beyond a specific date on the calendar. The more than 3,000 deaths recorded annually in Colombia show that prevention requires ongoing attention, access to professionals, and support networks capable of acting when a person is going through a crisis.
In this context, “Un Corazon Contigo” seeks to add a free tool for accessing emotional care and bring citizens closer to professionals who can listen to and guide them. “Precisely because we know that after a tragedy, the chances of pain becoming deeper increase, from the First Lady’s Office we have created the ‘Un Corazón Contigo’ initiative,” Pineda explained.
According to the first lady, those who turn to the platform will be able to find people willing to “support you, listen to you, guide you, so that this entire process is easier and more manageable.”
Pineda concluded her message with a direct invitation to those going through a period of suffering: “If you are suffering today, talk. You are not alone. There is hope.”
The first lady’s aim is for that conversation to happen before it is too late and for asking for help to become the first step toward finding support.