World Suicide Prevention Day

“Creating Hope Through Action”

Around the world, an estimated 703,000 people die from suicide each year. There are perhaps 20 people who attempt suicide for every suicide, and many more have significant suicidal thoughts. Suicidal behaviour has a huge influence on millions of people and causes them to experience severe grief.

Every suicidal death is a public health issue that has a significant effect on the people in the area. The number of suicides can be lowered worldwide by increasing knowledge, removing the stigma associated with it, and promoting informed action.

The International Association for Suicide Prevention and the World Health Organization (WHO) created World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) in 2003.

Every year on September 10th

, organisations, governments, and the general public increase awareness of the problem, decrease stigma and give a clear message that suicide can be avoided.

“Creating hope through action” will be the three-year theme for World Suicide Prevention Day from 2021 to 2023. This theme serves as a reminder that there are alternatives to suicide in an effort to instil hope and brightness in all of us.

People who are contemplating suicide can be told there is hope and that we care about them and want to help them by seeing that hope manifested in action. It also means that our actions, no matter how big or small, might offer hope to people who are struggling. Finally, it emphasises how important it is for countries to make suicide prevention a top public health priority, particularly in situations when access to mental health treatment and the availability of evidence-based interventions are already restricted. By developing this topic and spreading this message over three years, we may visualise a world where suicides are less common.

As members of society, as children, as parents, as friends, as co-workers, or as people with lived experience, we can all contribute to helping those who are in a suicidal crisis or who have lost a loved one to suicide. We can all spread awareness of the problem, help those who are in need, and share our personal experiences. Sujata Birla Hospital urges people to create hope through action, spread positivity and shine a light on the people in need.