WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY

Isn’t it worrying that suicide and the suicidal tendency is one of the biggest public health challenges of our time? Did you know that approximately 800,000 people commit suicide yearly?

Majority of suicidal people might not ask for help, but this does not mean they don’t need it. In a majority of communities, it is considered a taboo to discuss suicide, and when it’s spoken of, it’s in hushed tones. It is vital to recognize suicidal tendencies if we are to prevent suicide.

In an attempt to fight this depressing fact, the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) established the World Suicide Prevention Day also called National World Suicide Prevention Day which is marked each year on the 10th of September.

History of World Suicide Prevention Day

Notably, distressed young people continue to be a high-risk group for self-harm and suicidal behavior. This trend is also prevalent in older people and celebrities too. Upon this backdrop, IASP in collaboration with the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) has been organizing various awareness activities across the globe since 2003.

IASP - the brainchild of the late Professor Erwin Ringel - has been in existence from 1960 and was founded in Vienna. In relations with WHO, IASP is a crucial Non-Governmental Organization with a core mandate of addressing suicide.

How is World Suicide Prevention Day Celebrated?

The AISP organizes various events as a way to increase suicide prevention awareness, commemorate those who have lost their lives and to offer support to those suffering. Some of these activities include World Suicide Prevention Day walks, campaigns and workshops.

As an individual, you can attend and participate in these events at venues close to you. By so doing, you get a chance to find out whether or not you are prone to suicidal tendencies and where to find help. Remember to wear World Suicide Prevention Day yellow wristbands, ribbons or T-shirt to show your support for this day. Yellow is the color for World Suicide Prevention Day, and it symbolizes hope and rebirth.

You can also assist people in distress to seek professional support. Open communication channels with those predisposed to suicidal tendencies by listening in a non-judgemental way and being empathetic.

Why is World Suicide Prevention Day Celebrated?

This annual awareness day presents an opportunity for countries, individuals and organizations to dispatch a message of hope to global communities. It is a perfect occasion to disseminate information, prevent harm and manage risk.

This is a day that is meant to raise attention to suicide prevention and help victims find help and information more efficiently.

It helps in improving the understanding of suicide, increases awareness and diminishes stigma and discrimination metered against suicidal people.

How to Support World Suicide Prevention Day

- Governments across the globe can join the IASP to help create awareness and shift public attention to this global issue,

- Policymakers and politicians can support the IASP by formulating activities geared towards suicide prevention and tailor-make suicide-specific interventions,

- Mental health service providers, clinicians, and researchers should strive to make suicide prevention their core business and not stigmatize suicidal people,

- Community members should endeavor to be their brother’s keepers by checking in on others around them and finding out how they are fairing,

- As individuals, we should make it a responsibility to take care of ourselves and not live in isolation.

Worrying Suicide facts

- Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S – this is according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

- According to the WHO, suicide remains a huge public-health concern that accounts for approximately one death every 40 seconds.

- Talking about or discussing suicide does not lead to the occurrence of suicide. This may in effect reduce suicidal thoughts.

- Sometimes people who commit suicide just want to stop hurting and have no actual intentions of committing suicide.

- Most suicides are through the use of firearms.

- Prevention of suicide is not an issue for professionals to deal with. It is a communal responsibility to offer support to people in crisis and with an overall aim of saving lives.