Ecuador faces rising suicide deaths as mental‑health silence persists

A growing concern in Ecuador is the silent suffering that leads to suicide. Between 2019 and 2023 the country recorded 5,468 suicide deaths, a rate of 6.71 per 100,000 inhabitants. About 78% of the cases involved men, and over 70% were adults aged 20‑64, while one in five victims were adolescents.

The article highlights how early signs—withdrawal, declined sleep, and masked distress—often go unnoticed by families, workplaces, and the health system. It calls for stronger preventive strategies and more attentive public‑health responses to detect and address mental‑health issues before they culminate in suicide.