«Prevention Can Save Lives»: Culture Commission Supports Mental Health Campaign Proposal for National Television

Original article: «La prevención también puede salvar vidas»: Comisión de Cultura de la Cámara respaldó propuesta para implementar campaña de salud mental en TVN

«No one should have to face a difficult moment alone.» With this goal in mind, Congressman Alejandro Bernales (PL) proposed to the Culture, Arts, and Communications Committee of the Chamber a request for National Television to develop a campaign for prevention and mental health during September.

The initiative received unanimous support, emphasizing that it «aims to leverage the role and reach of public television to deliver preventive information, guidance, and tools that allow individuals to recognize warning signs and know where to seek help.»

Furthermore, the proposal gains special significance with the upcoming September 10th, World Suicide Prevention Day: «It is not enough to mourn when a tragedy occurs. The real work starts beforehand: by talking, informing, learning to recognize signs, and telling those who are going through tough times that asking for help is an option and that they do not have to face it alone,» stated Congressman Bernales.

According to the parliamentarian, «TVN has an opportunity to use its public character to contribute directly to a preventive effort that needs to reach far beyond social media and institutional campaigns.»

«Television continues to enter thousands of homes and can reach those who may never seek mental health information on their own initiative. A timely, correct message can open a family conversation, prompting someone to ask how another is doing, or encouraging a person to seek help. That is the essence of this proposal,» explained the Liberal Party legislator.

«The unanimous approval shows that we understand this issue transcends any political differences. Mental health does not discriminate by age, territory, or political position. Behind every person suffering, there is also a family, friends, and a community that often does not know how to help,» added Congressman Bernales.

«We aren’t claiming that a campaign will solve such a complex problem by itself. What we are saying is much simpler: if we have a public television capable of reaching all of Chile, we should also use that capacity to care. Because if one message encourages just one person to seek help in time, it will have been worth it,» he concluded.

We will keep you informed.