World Suicide Prevention Day - September 10, 2006

From the Canadian Health Network

World Suicide Prevention Day is organized on September 10 each year by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to draw world attention to one of the world's largest public health problems.

With understanding, new hope is the theme for 2006. This year focuses on the need to take current research and knowledge on suicidal behaviour and translate it into practical programmes and activities that can save lives.

Despite our increasing knowledge about the causes and consequences of suicidal behaviour, our understanding of what works best in preventing suicide is relatively underdeveloped.

Facts about suicide:
- About one million lives are lost each to suicide each year.
- Suicide is one of the leading causes of death, particularly in young people.
- More lives are lost to suicide around the world each year than from all wars and homicides.
- Depression is one of the risk factors for suicide.

Preventing suicide—who can help?
To be effective, suicide prevention will require a response from the entire community, including researchers, health practitioners, community and social service workers, governments, police and legal systems, religious organizations, educators and employers.

There are many ways to get involved:
- Organize an event or launch an initiative to raise awareness on suicide.
- Hold a press conference to highlight research findings.
- Hold training courses on the causes of suicide.

For more ideas, and to see a sample of activities around the world, visit the website for World Suicide Prevention Day 2006, or the Centre for Suicide Prevention.