Every September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day, sponsored by the International Association for Suicide Prevention and others.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates more than 700,000 people die due to suicide each year and that almost 77% of all global suicides occur in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). For every suicide there are many more who attempt suicide or have serious suicidal ideation. Suicidal behaviour profoundly impacts families and communities and remains a universal challenge with millions impacted. The reduction of suicide mortality is of global importance and a vital public health consideration.
In United States, help is always available by calling 988 and at
I never imagined I would be so closely touched by suicide. It was one year ago on Aug 18 that my youngest sister died of suicide. The whole family is still reeling from it.
This is why there shouldn’t be a day for everything under the sun; pizza, puzzles, cake, lawn bowling…Save it for something important like this. I knew there are suicide hotlines but I didn’t know about the 988 line. That’s important information that should be as universally known as 911.
It’s a goal of mine to mention and link to 988 and its website whenever suicide or self-harm is mentioned in a thread here or on other social media sites. And without editorializing or otherwise adding anything that could be distracting. The information is too important to get sidelined anywhere it could help someone.
Years ago a musician friend I had played with committed suicide. He had visited us about a week before to pick up some albums etc that he had lent us.
I wish we had realized that this was a way of saying goodbye.
Alas, we did not pick up on it… don’t know if we would have been able to help, but we would have tried. Depression is a nasty disease. All the worse because it is quite often treatable.
