Date: 9/9/2009
TUMSPR News: September 10 is the World Suicide Prevention Day and the World Health Organization (WHO) calls on all countries to help promote mental health and prevent acts of suicide.
September 10 every year marks the World Suicide Day and the World Health Organization (WHO) has called on all countries for commitment and help for preventing suicide.
WHO tries to unite with partners and persuades them to advocate for the prevention of suicidal behavior, provision of adequate treatment and follow-up care for afflicted people as well as responsible reporting of the act in the media.
The pattern of suicide has changed in the past 50 years and it now it is more prevalent among those below 45 years of age. In the year 2000, approximately one million people died from suicide; a mortality rate of 16 per 100,000, or one death every 40 seconds. Suicide is now among the three leading causes of death among those aged 15-44 years in both sexes. Suicide attempts are up to 20 times more frequent than completed suicide.
Although traditionally suicide rates have been highest among the elderly males, rates among young people have been increasing and presently they are the group at highest risk in a third of countries, in both developed and developing countries.
Mental disorders, particularly depression and substance abuse, are associated with more than 90% of all cases of suicide; however, suicide results from many complex socio-cultural factors and is more likely to occur particularly during periods of socioeconomic, family and individual crisis situations (e.g. loss of a loved one, employment, honor).
On the other hand, there have been challenges and obstacles lingering about in many countries that mainly arise from a lack of adequately addressing the problem, ignoring it or completely wiping out the problem and the fear of stigma or regarding it as a taboo has prevented discussing the problem openly. WHO states that prevention of suicide requires a multidisciplinary or multi-sectoral approach including both health and non-health sectors; for example help from the educational institutions, justice departments, work environments, law, politics, the media, etc.
WHO also provides clues for effective interventions including adoption of strategies for the restriction of access to common methods of suicide, creation of crisis centers, adequate prevention and treatment of depression, alcohol and substance abuse and school-based interventions involving crisis management, enhancement of self-esteem and development of coping skills and healthy decision making.
Source for more information
International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP)
http://www.iasp.info/
References
World Suicide Prevention Day
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/annual/world_suicide_prevention_day/en/index.html
Suicide prevention (SUPRE)
http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/suicideprevent/en/index.html
http://publicrelations.tums.ac.ir/english/news/detail.asp?newsID=13415
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