The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) both support World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD), which is observed every year on September 10. The occasion shows the world's dedication to raising awareness of suicide prevention.
Since its inception in 2003, World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) has been commemorated on September 10 each year as a day of awareness intended to promote global commitment and action to prevent suicides. World Suicide Prevention Day is sponsored by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH), and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Around 40 countries reportedly held awareness-raising activities in 2011 to celebrate the occasion. No low-income country reported having a national suicide prevention strategy, compared to less than 10% of lower-middle income nations and about a third of upper-middle and high-income countries, according to the WHO's Mental Health Atlas published in 2014.
History
According to the WHO, almost 3000 individuals commit suicide every day on average. Twenty or more people may attempt suicide for every individual who succeeds in doing so. Every year, almost a million people commit suicide. Suicide is a significant preventable cause of premature mortality that is influenced by psychosocial, cultural, and environmental risk factors. Suicide can be avoided by global initiatives that address these key risk factors. Strong data suggests that effective prevention can lower suicide rates.
As a project of the IASP, World Suicide Prevention Day has been observed annually on September 10 since 2003. This event is sponsored by WHO. the following on World Suicide Prevention Day:
To ensure that suicide is no longer stigmatised, criminalised, or otherwise punished, WHO and IASP collaborate with governments and other partners. The WHO's role is to foster political action and leadership in order to construct national suicide prevention strategies, to increase national planning capacity to establish the fundamental elements of such a strategy, and to foster national implementation capacities.
Objectives
The main objective of this day is to increase global awareness of suicide prevention. Promoting stakeholder cooperation and self-empowerment are goals that will help avoid self-harm and suicide. These can be accomplished by enhancing the skills of healthcare professionals and other key players, spreading encouraging and educational messages to the general public and vulnerable populations like young people, and promoting open dialogue about mental health at all levels of society—at home, at school, at work, etc. People who are thinking about or touched by suicide are also urged to share their experiences and get support from a professional.
Why is it crucial?
According to the most recent suicide data, more than 6,800 persons died by suicide in the UK and Republic of Ireland in 2018. Every suicide-related death is tragic. Additionally, we are aware that suicide is avoidable and not inevitable. However, it's still commonly stigmatised to be unwell. Additionally, governments can still come up with better, more comprehensive measures to stop suicide.
How do people behave?
Organisations, governmental bodies, and private citizens can use World Suicide Prevention Day to raise awareness of suicide, mental diseases that are linked to suicide, and suicide prevention. Promoting this event is a major responsibility of organisations like the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP).
World Suicide Prevention Day events and activities include:
Numerous nations around the world honour many of these initiatives. Some of these gatherings and activities take place locally, while others take place across the entire country. On World Suicide Prevention Day, a lot of communities around the globe reaffirm their dedication to preventing suicide.
