Written by: Aryzza Antonette Aperocho and Kateleen Vicente
Visuals by: Micah Polintan
Every year, more than 700,000 people worldwide die due to suicide, while 77% of these global suicides transpire in low and middle-income countries where there is a scarcity of resources and services for people who need them, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This corresponds to one death occurring every 40 seconds.
Suicide has also been reported to be the fourth leading cause of death globally among teenagers aged 15 to 19 in 2019, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened its risk factors. With this, suicide has been a significant mental health issue that has often been neglected due to myths, taboos, and stigma enfolding it. It remains a global challenge to reduce suicide mortality; but with timely strategies, appropriate interventions, and sufficient cooperation from each one, it can be overcome.
“Every death is a tragedy for family, friends, and colleagues. Yet suicides are preventable. We call on all countries to incorporate proven suicide prevention strategies into national health and education programmes in a sustainable way,” said WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
To raise awareness of suicide and to encourage inhibitory measures that would reduce global cases of both suicide and suicide attempts, the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), in collaboration with the World Health Organization, established the World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) in 2003.
WSPD is a platform utilized to elucidate the role of each individual in suicide prevention as well as accentuate suicide prevention efforts implemented globally, nationally, and regionally. This helps place the needed attention on suicide and raise awareness among the government, organizations, and people regarding suicide prevention.
WHO’s LIVE LIFE approach summarizes the bases of a comprehensive multisectoral suicide prevention strategy, incorporating four core interventions, which include limiting access to the means of suicide, interacting with the media for responsible reporting of suicide, fostering socio-emotional life skills in adolescents, and early identification, assessment, management, and following up on anyone who is affected by suicidal behaviors.
Following this, IASP also suggests three ways that individuals can carry out in their lives to prevent suicide for WSPD 2022. The first is to reach out and listen to those who are struggling to create hope. The second is to encourage understanding and awareness to create a comfortable space for those in need. The final way is to share personal stories of recovery from suicide attempts; how they learned to continue life, and how families and friends came to live with the loss of a loved one through suicide.
“Compassion, trust, and empathy go a long way in supporting someone who’s thinking of suicide,” says Professor Rory O'Connor, current IASP President, in his message for the WSPD.
Suicide has always been a pressing mental health issue, damaging the lives of many people across the globe. While suicide has unfortunately been neglected due to negative connotations and stigma surrounding it, global organizations are taking steps to raise awareness, and World Suicide Prevention Day is one crucial step towards this.
If you are having these thoughts, or know someone who is going through a similar situation, you can reach out and contact these hotlines:
National Center for Mental Health Crisis Hotline: 0966-351-4518
Luzon-wide landline toll-free: 1553
Globe/TM Subscribers: 0966-351-4518 / 0917-899-8727
SMART/SUN/TNT Subscribers: 0908-639-2672
Philippine Red Cross: 804HOPE(4673)
Globe/TM: 0917 558 4673 and 2919
Manila Lifeline Centre: (02) 896-9191 / 0917 854-9191
Comments