World Suicide Day 💚

We lead busy lifestyles and barely get time to sit and actually process our thoughts, which is likely a reason why mental health issues or underlying problems go unassessed. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), suicide is committed somewhere in the world every 40 seconds. Approximately 800,000 people die every year due to suicide. The majority of these occur in underdeveloped and developing countries. These figures are startling, considering that suicide is preventable. Undiagnosed and untreated mental illness is the biggest reason behind suicide. The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) initiated World Suicide Prevention Day in 2003. The day is co-sponsored by the World Federation for Mental Health and World Health Organization. The aim of the day is to research and collect data on suicidal behavior, determine the various causes and why its signs go unnoticed, and developing sound practices and policies for suicide prevention. WHO’s global suicide prevention campaign from 1999 was mentioned on the first World Suicide Prevention Day in 2003, citing the following as its main goals: “The organization of global, regional and national multi-sectoral activities to increase awareness about suicidal behaviors and how to effectively prevent them.” “The strengthening of countries’ capabilities to develop and evaluate national policies and plans for suicide prevention.” Events and activities on World Suicide Prevention Day include conferences, seminars, and discussion forums; formulating new policies for suicide prevention; the use of media as a tool for promoting awareness; memorial ceremonies to remember those who lost the battle to mental illness; educating adolescents on suicide and who to reach out to if needed; and establishing support groups and special facility centers as resources for depression and suicide awareness and treatment.