10 September - World Suicide Prevention Day
More than 700 000 people die by suicide every year. Furthermore, for each suicide, there are more than 20 suicide attempts.
- Suicides and suicide attempts have a ripple effect that impacts on families, friends, colleagues, communities and societies.
- Suicides are preventable. Much can be done to prevent suicide at individual, community and national levels.
- Suicide occurs throughout life. It is the fourth leading cause of death among 15-29 year-olds globally.
- Suicide occurs in all regions of the world. In fact, 77% of global suicides happen in low- and middle-income countries.
While the link between suicide and mental disorders (in particular, depression and alcohol use disorders) is well established, many suicides happen impulsively in moments of crisis. Further risk factors include experience of loss, loneliness, discrimination, a relationship break-up, financial problems, chronic pain and illness, violence, abuse, and conflict or other humanitarian emergencies. The strongest risk factor for suicide is a previous suicide attempt.
WHO recognizes suicide as a public health priority. The first WHO World Suicide Report “Preventing suicide: a global imperative”, published in 2014, aims to increase the awareness of the public health significance of suicide and suicide attempts and to make suicide prevention a high priority on the global public health agenda. It also aims to encourage and support countries to develop or strengthen comprehensive suicide prevention strategies in a multisectoral public health approach.
More about this topic:
The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP)
Latvian Doctors Association of Psychotherapists (LĀPA)
