Organisations
and groups have planned a wide range of activities and events to mark World
Suicide Prevention Day, an annual event, held on September 10th, organised by
the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and co-sponsored by
the World Health Organization (WHO). These activities and events include
memorial walks, conferences, mental health screening, music concerts, education
talks and suicide prevention workshops, and more.
According to the WHO, suicide is one of the leading causes
of death among young people. Approximately one million people worldwide
die by suicide each year. This corresponds to one death by suicide every
40 seconds. The number of lives lost each year through suicide exceeds the
number of deaths due to homicide and war combined. These staggering
figures do not include suicide attempts which may be up to 20 times the number
of deaths by suicide, which works out to be one attempt every 1.5 seconds.
IASP President, Dr. Lanny Berman, states, “The economic
costs associated with self-inflicted death or injuries are estimated to be in
the billions of US dollars a year. The psychological and social impact of
suicide on the family and community is staggering.” He continues, “the
theme of this year’s Day is ‘Suicide Prevention Across the Globe: Strengthening
Protective Factors and Instilling Hope.’ We are stressing that there is
hope because across the globe organizations such as ours are making advances in
suicide prevention, research, understanding and outreach.”
Despite the wide experience of the risk factors in
populations, the fact that completed suicide is a relatively rare event
indicates that there is a range of protective factors that act to mitigate the
effects of exposure to risk factors. Among psychological factors, resilience
(the ability to cope with adverse life events and adjust to them), a sense of
personal self-worth and self-confidence, effective coping and problem-solving
skills, and adaptive help-seeking behaviour are often considered to be
protective against the development of suicidal behaviours.
Social and cultural factors such as religious and social
integration, social connectedness and maintenance of good relationships with
friends, colleagues and neighbours, access to support from relevant others and
ready access to health care are associated with a reduced risk of suicide and
reduced repetition of attempted suicide. In addition, a healthy lifestyle, with
maintenance of good diet and sleep habits, regular physical activity,
abstinence from smoking, is also associated with a reduced risk of suicidal behaviour.
Suicide is a multi-determined phenomenon that occurs against
a background of complex interacting biological, social, psychological and
environmental risk and protective factors. Despite the complexity of this
phenomenon, suicide can be prevented.
“We are delighted to see such positive programs being held
in India and Ireland and are heartened to have the Royal College of
Psychiatrists partner with groups to produce a suicide prevention awareness
program called ‘U Can Cope,’” says Berman. He continues, “Dublin, Moscow,
Barcelona, Rome, Vienna and Rio de Janeiro are just a few of world cities that
are holding conferences. All this helps to reduce stigma that is associated
with suicide, suicide prevention and mental health issues.”
IASP anticipates that individuals from over 50 countries
will be observing World Suicide Prevention Day with activities such as memorial
walks, cultural or educational events, or through simply lighting a candle,
near a window at 8pm, in support of suicide prevention, to remember a loved one
lost to suicide, and for those who are bereaved by suicide.
Private treatment news: 7 September 2012
