(Photo Credits: International Association for Suicide Prevention [IASP])
Be the light!
Today, September 10, marks the 20th World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD).
First observed in 2003, WSPD is an initiative of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH). WSPD is an awareness day that highlights the importance of educating people on how to prevent suicide and its end goal is the reduction of the global number of suicides and suicide attempts. Moreover, the entire month is dedicated to the cause and September is actually called Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.
This year, everyone is encouraged to ‘Create Hope Through Action.’ According to IASP, this theme was chosen in order to “draw attention to this important public health issue globally and to disseminate the message that suicides are preventable.”
They added: “By encouraging understanding, reaching in and sharing experiences, this theme gives people the confidence to take action. It highlights the fact that there is an alternative to suicide and aims to inspire confidence and light in all of us.”
The Numbers
According to NAMI:
- Men accounted for 79% of suicides.
- In the U.S., lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are “4x more likely to attempt suicide than straight youth.”
- In the U.S., transgender adults are “nearly 9x more likely to attempt suicide than the general population.”
- Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than straight youth.
For more information, read the article in full here.
Warning Signs
Of course, it is very important for us to be aware about the warning signs and risk factors of suicide, that we know how to navigate mental health among many others. This is why the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has prepared the following resources for us:
- The Warning Signs and Risk Factors of Suicide
- How to be Prepared for a Crisis
- How to Navigate a Mental Health Crisis
- You can contact the NAMI HelpLine for more information, referrals, or support.
Where to Get Help
If you or a loved one is having suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. You may also click here or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for more resources.
The suicide action phone numbers for other countries are:
US – Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860 Available 24/7
For the LGBT youth under 24, call TrevorLifeline—a crisis intervention and suicide prevention phone service available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386
TrevorChat: Phone hotline (1-866-4-U-TREVOR), or text (available on Fridays 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET – text the word “Trevor” to 1-202-304-1200).
TrevorChat is available from 3:00 pm – 9:00 pm ET daily. Click this Time zone converter.
Canada – Trans Lifeline: 1-877-330-6366 Available 24/7
Helpline 1: 604-872-3311 (Greater Vancouver)
Helpline 2: 18666613311 (Toll free-Howe Sound/Sunshine Coast)
Helpline 3: 1-866-872-0113 (TTY)
Helpline 4: 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433) (BC-wide)
Website: WWW.CRISISCENTRE.BC.CA
Within Ottawa: 613.722.6914
Outside Ottawa: 1.866.996.0991
Association québécoise de prévention du suicide: 1-866-APPELLE (1-866-277-3553)
Also, check out http://suicideprevention.ca/ for educational materials and resources. You can also find local crisis centers through this link: http://suicideprevention.ca/need-help/
Australia – For crisis or suicide prevention support for LGBTQI in Australia, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au/gethelp. Click here for other support services within Australia.
Singapore – Oogachaga WhatsApp – 8592 0609 (Tue, Wed, Thu: 7pm-10pm; Sat: 2pm-5pm)
Oogachaga face to face counselling – make an appointment
Email counselling: [email protected] [daily]
Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) 24-hour suicide prevention hotline – 1-767
Philippines – Natasha Goulbourn Foundation +638892217; 02-8804-4673; 0918-873-4673; 0917-558-4673; email: [email protected]
For the other countries including those in Asia and Europe, click here.
For Adam4Adam users from other parts of the world not mentioned above, you may click this, this, and this.
To learn more about WSPD 2023, read here.
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