Today (10 September) is World Suicide Prevention Day, which serves to raise awareness about this tragic issue, and work to prevent it through education and support of those who struggle with suicidal ideation every day.
An estimated 800 000 people throughout the world commit suicide each year, which means one suicide every 40 seconds. It is estimated that suicide attempts are 25 times that number – four million people over the world every year. There is some ripple-down effect as well – those having lost a loved one to suicide are themselves more likely to commit suicide.
Organisations such as the World Health Organisation fight to combat this epidemic using the philosophy of ‘connect, communicate, care’.
Connect with those whom you discover may be in some form of emotional distress or considering suicide. Let them know they aren’t alone. You need to open the channels of communication to be able to truly let others feel that you’re a safe place they can come to and be taken seriously without judgement.
Too often are those suffering from real, debilitating depression and suicidal ideation met with comments such as ‘You’re just making it up’ or ‘You’re being melodramatic’, when in fact their struggles are very real.
World Suicide Prevention Day encourages you to truly care about those around you, and to work to help end the epidemic before it claims someone you love.
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