September 10th is recognized as World Suicide Prevention Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about suicide prevention and supporting those who are struggling with mental health issues. It's an important occasion to promote mental health, offer resources, and create an environment where people feel comfortable seeking help. If you or someone you know is struggling, reaching out to a mental health professional or support organization can be a crucial step.
History of world suicide day
World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD), observed on September 10 each year, was established in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). The day serves as a global platform for raising awareness, promoting action, and reducing the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health issues.
Establishment by IASP and WHO (2003): WSPD was created to draw attention to the need for worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides. The day encourages nations and communities to address suicide through coordinated efforts to increase awareness, provide resources, and foster conversations about mental health.
Focus on Global Collaboration: The founding organizations recognized that suicide is a complex public health issue that affects individuals, families, and communities across all cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. Global cooperation, sharing of knowledge and community engagement is crucial to prevention efforts.
Expanding Reach: Over the years, the number of participating countries and organizations has grown, with events, campaigns, and initiatives taking place worldwide. These efforts focus on improving support systems, training for crisis intervention, and encouraging open dialogues around mental health.
Significance of the day
Raising Awareness: Suicide is a significant public health issue, with over 700,000 people dying by suicide each year globally (according to WHO data). WSPD helps bring attention to these numbers, emphasizing that many suicides are preventable through early intervention, education, and societal change.
Encouraging Conversations and Reducing Stigma: Suicide and mental health issues have long been stigmatized topics. WSPD creates a safe space for people to discuss their struggles openly, reducing the isolation that many individuals feel. It also promotes seeking help as a sign of strength rather than weakness.
Supporting Those Affected: In addition to prevention, the day acknowledges those who have lost loved ones to suicide and offers resources for survivors of suicide loss, helping them cope with their grief and trauma.
Prevention Strategies: Through the promotion of evidence-based research and initiatives, WSPD highlights prevention strategies, including improving mental health services, crisis hotlines, and public health campaigns.
Theme and Activities: Each year, WSPD adopts a specific theme (e.g., "Working Together to Prevent Suicide") to guide events, discussions, and public health initiatives. These themes encourage collaboration at all levels of society, from government policy to community support.
World Suicide Prevention Day emphasizes the message that every life matters and that through collective efforts, awareness, and compassion, the rates of suicide can be reduced globally.
Changing pattern of suicide deaths in India
Suicide is a major national public health issue in the India. Country has the dubious distinction of having the highest number of suicides in the world. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reports that 1.71 lakh people died by suicide in 2022. As per official data, suicide cases increased in 2022, registering a 4.2% increase over 2021 and a jump of 27% compared to 2018. The rate of suicide per one lakh population has increased to 12.4 in 2022 which is the highest year for this data. A lot has changed in India since the Covid-19 pandemic. Alongside more than half a million people who died after getting infected by the virus, data show that in 2020 and 2021 combined, 3.17 lakh people died by suicide.
Factors contributing to suicides
Family problems - 32.4 %
Illness - 17.1%
Drug abuse/Alcohol addiction - 5.6%
Marriage related issues - 5.5%
Love affairs - 4.5%
Bankruptcy or Indebtedness - 4.2%
Failure in Examination - 2.0%
Unemployment - 2.0%
Other Causes - 20.5%
Causes not known - 10.5%
