World Suicide Prevention Day – observed on 10th September, 2020

To create awareness about the mental health and prevent suicides

(1) World suicide prevention day was observed on 10th September, 2020 across the
world and by WHO
(2) WHO has been co-sponsor of the day and the objective of this day is to create
awareness about the mental health and prevent suicides
(3) India now accounts for over one third of the world’s annual female suicides and
around one fourth of male suicides

Key highlights of the Day

• This day is organized by the International Association for Suicide Prevention
• It is an opportunity to raise awareness all across the world that suicide can be
  prevented
• The ongoing pandemic has affected mental health majorly
• Staying at home, low physical activity, less socializing and unexpected changes
  in the way everything works has made it important to highlight suicide
  prevention
• World Suicide Prevention Day theme has been “Working Together to Prevent
  Suicide” for last two years
• First WHO World Suicide Report was released in 2014, titled Preventing
  Suicide: A Global Imperative
• The report focused in making prevention of the suicides a high priority on the
  global public health agenda

Suicide Global Scenario

• Suicide is 10th leading cause of death worldwide and more than 1 million
  people die by suicide every year globally
• This amounts to a death in every 40 seconds and about 3000 every day
• This is almost 1.5% of total deaths. Suicide is more common in people above
  age 70, but in certain countries people in age group of 15-30 is also highly
  vulnerable
• Despite of the high mortality, there are very limited numbers of organizations
  engaged in suicide prevention
• Suicide is now recognized as a public health issue in almost every country
• Suicide rates have been increasing gradually to the extent that it has become
  one of a major cause of death worldwide
• It is important to identify the early warning signs and factor that can lead to
  suicide

Suicide in India – facts

• According to a 2018 research by Public Health Foundation of India, India now
  accounts for over one third of the world’s annual female suicides and around
  one fourth of male suicides
• The suicide rates for men and women in India were much higher than the
  global averages
• India shares 17.8% of global suicides. The report highlighted that India’s
  southern states are more developed but also more prone to suicide deaths
• This follows the global trend that more developed countries have higher suicide
  rates
• The age group of 15-39 years is most vulnerable in India

Psychological Facts of Suicide

• Suicidal reactions may vary from anger, distress, ridicule, anxiety, tension, fear,
  sadness or any intentional determination to end one’s life
• The causes for a suicidal intention can be complex, ranging from social,
  economic, health, cultural, political, religious and other areas of individual’s life
• Suicide is multi factorial in nature, cumulative due to number of causes which
  are progressive and operate over a period of time
• Even sometimes an impulsive suicide can be extremely difficult to understand
• Passing suicidal thought happens to most of the individuals in a sudden life
  crisis or a traumatic situation
• An Individual passing through any of these phases may think, attempt or
  complete the act
• Some individuals due to their inability to cope with the stress or lack of
  adequate support mechanisms, finally find suicide as an option
• However, the word option itself indicates that there are choices
• The major steps towards preventing suicide are identifying the problem in
  various dimensions, understanding risk factors, and identifying what works in
  individual societies
• An early recognition of the warning signs and professional assistance can help
  to save a life

Pic courtesy : fresherslive.com