World Suicide Prevention Day: Why it matters

World Suicide Prevention Day is celebrated annually on September 10th to raise awareness about suicide prevention worldwide. The day was established in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) in conjunction with the World Health Organization (WHO), with the aim of reducing the stigma around suicide and encouraging well-informed action to prevent it.

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The theme for World Suicide Prevention Day has been for the past three years “Creating hope through action.”  This is a reminder that hope is out there and to focus on promoting compassion and understanding. We can all play a role in supporting those contemplating suicide or those bereaved by suicide.

Suicide is a major public health issue that affects people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. According to WHO, it is the second leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds globally. In 2019, there were an estimated 703,000 deaths by suicide worldwide, which is equivalent to one person dying every 40 seconds. Suicide is preventable, and by raising awareness and reducing the stigma surrounding it we can reduce the number of instances around the world.

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World Suicide Prevention Day provides an opportunity to encourage public participation and self-empowerment to address self-harm and suicide through preventative action. Its purpose is to have people open up about their feelings and seek help if they are struggling with suicidal thoughts or know someone who is. Suicide prevention is the responsibility of everyone, and we can all play a role in learning about the warning signs, supporting those who are struggling, and advocating for prevention policies and programs.

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There are many risk factors for suicide, including mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. Other risk factors include social isolation, family history of suicide, and exposure to trauma. But just as there are a number of factors that can contribute to someone taking this drastic decision, there are also many things that can be done to prevent them from going through with it. These include:

• Raising awareness: WSPD is an important opportunity to raise awareness and prevention. By talking about suicide, we can help reduce the stigma associated with it and make it more likely for people to seek help if they are struggling.
• Identifying people who are at risk: If you are concerned about someone who may be at risk of suicide, talk to them about your concerns. You can also reach out to a mental health professional or suicide prevention hotline for help.
• Encouraging people to seek help: If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, please reach out for help. There are many people who care about you and want you to get better. You can call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or visit their website at https://988lifeline.org/ .
• Remember that you’re not alone. While suicide remains a major public health issue affecting people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds, we can help to reduce the number of instances by fighting against the stigma associated with it, learning about the warning signs, supporting those who are struggling, and advocating for suicide prevention policies and programs.