Spain – Kick off meeting

The kick-off meeting took place on 21 Oct 21, in Alcalá la Real (Jaen province, Andalusia, Spain).

The mayor of the town together with municipal representatives; the Minister of Health and Consumption of the Andalusian Government; the General Secretariat of Humanization, Planning, Social and Health Care and Consumption of the Andalusian Government; the mayor of Social Services, Health and Families of the town council; the general director of Social Health Care, Mental Health and Addictions of the Andalusian Government, the delegate of Health and Consumption in Jaén province; the Mental Health coordinator in Jaén province; the European, Spanish and Andalusian coordinators of the project, as well as a large audience of citizens and professionals from the region have attended the Andalusian EAAD-Best opening ceremony. Mr Marino Aguilera, mayor of the town gave the opening speech, after which the project coordinators and the regional mental health coordinator provided information about the project and the forthcoming intervention to the auditory and opened the discussions.

The opening ceremony was of great importance and interest for the town Alcalá la Real has a high suicide rate compared to other Spanish regions. Also, this will be the first experience at a national level in which an entire town is involved in a community intervention for the prevention of suicide.