World Suicide Prevention Day 2021

World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) is an awareness day recognized by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH). 

WSPD was first introduced in 2003; however, it wasn’t until 2011 when it became a globally recognized event. Here’s all you need to know about World Suicide Prevention Day 2021.

Importance of World Suicide Prevention Day

Suicide is one of the major causes of sudden death in the world. Around 800,000 people die this way every year. Moreover, suicide is the second-leading cause of death for people aged 15-24 years old, which depression being the leading trigger. 

World Suicide Prevention Day is an initiative that raises the awareness of suicide and works towards reducing the number of suicide attempts globally. Several governments and non-government organizations use this day as a platform to run campaigns to promote preventative measures and encourage people to look at positive things in life. 

Some Shocking Facts about Suicide

There’s a lot of taboo around suicide, depression, and mental health. Here are some shocking facts about mental health everyone should know. 

• Suicide is a mental health emergency. Over 264 million people worldwide suffer from depression, and many of these people take suicide as their only option. 
• Though suicide rates among teens and younger adults are high, older people aged 45-64 years old are the most likely to die from suicide. 
• Men are more likely to commit suicide than women. However, women are more likely to attempt suicide than men. 
• Suicidal behavior isn’t a deadly disease. It’s a mental disorder that can be treated and eliminated if detected early. 
• Suicide rates are increasing. Presently, suicide happens every 12 minutes in America. 

What Can You Take From World Suicide Prevention Day?

Let’s discuss some impactful things to do. 

Get Help: If you’re feeling depressed or suicidal, get help right away. Don’t fight everything alone. Getting help can bring your life back on track. 

Give Help: If you know someone who’s depressed, connect with them and assure them that you are with them. Don’t push them to be normal or force them to do things they don’t want to do. Just stay by their side and communicate to them that you will always support them. 

Create a Large-Scale Impact: If you want to create an impact on a greater scale, find a nonprofit or charity organization in your area working towards preventing suicides. You can volunteer there or donate money to them. Some prominent suicide charity organizations in the US are:

• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
• National Alliance on Mental Illness
• Trevor Project
• Project Sanctuary
• The JED Foundation

Final Thoughts

Deaths by suicide are a major concern public health concern. Life is a gift, and everyone should have it. World Suicide Prevention Day is a great initiative to increase awareness of suicide and the preventative measures that can reduce suicide rates. 

So, what steps will you take to observe World Suicide Prevention Day 2021?