World Suicide Prevention Day 2020: Theme, History And Quotes

World Suicide Prevention Day

World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD), on 10 September, is organized by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP). WHO has been co-sponsor of the day. Various events and activities are held during this occasion to raise awareness that suicide is a major preventable cause of death.

According to WHO, Over 800,000 people die by suicide annually (one death every 40 seconds) and for every suicide there are many more people who attempt suicide every year. Suicide is the second major cause of death among young people 15-29 years of age. More people kill themselves than die in all wars, terrorist acts and interpersonal violence combined. The most common methods of suicide are drug poisoning, hanging, firearms, electric shock and jumping from height.

World Suicide Prevention Day Theme

2010 – “Families, Community Systems and Suicide”
2011 – “Preventing Suicide in Multicultural Societies”
2012 – “Suicide Prevention across the Globe: Strengthening Protective Factors and Instilling Hope”
2013 – “Stigma: A Major Barrier to Suicide Prevention”
2014 – “Light a candle near a Window”
2015 – “Preventing Suicide: Reaching Out and Saving Lives”
2016 – “Connect, Communicate, Care”
2017 – “Take a Minute, Change a Life”
2018 – “Working Together to Prevent Suicide”
2019 – “Working Together to Prevent Suicide”
2020 – “Working Together to Prevent Suicide”

How To Prevent Suicide

We are all part of a community, linked to family, friends, work colleagues or neighbours . We have the responsibility to support and empower those who become vulnerable in our communities. By raising awareness about the causes of suicide, warning signs for suicide and care for those who are in distress can help to prevent suicides.

If someone indicates they are considering suicide, listen and take their concerns seriously. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about their plans. Let them know you care, and they are not alone. This might prevent them to commit suicide.

1. Ask someone you are worried about if they’re thinking for suicide.
2. Keep them safe. Reduce access to lethal means for those at risk.
3. Be there with them. Listen carefully and learn what they are thinking and feeling.
4. Help them connect. Make a connection with a family member, friend, spiritual advisor, or health professional.
5. Stay connected. Stay get in touch with them and Follow up to see what they’re doing.

Top 10 Suicide rates by country

The following are lists of countries by suicide rate as per data published by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other sources.

**Top 10 Suicide rates by country in 2016 (per 100 000 people)**
Both sexes rank	Country	Continent	Both sexes	Males		Females		Male:Female ratio
Both sexes rank	Country	Continent	Both sexes	Rank	Number	Rank	Number	Male:Female ratio
1	Guyana	South America	30.2	3	46.6	5	14.2	3.28
2	Lesotho	Africa	28.9	25	22.7	1	32.6	0.7
3	Russia	Europe	26.5	1	48.3	31	7.5	6.44
4	Lithuania	Europe	25.7	2	47.5	37	6.7	7.09
5	Suriname	South America	23.2	6	36.1	13	10.9	3.31
6	Ivory Coast	Africa	23.0	8	32.0	8	13.0	2.46
7	Kazakhstan	Asia	22.8	4	40.1	28	7.7	5.21
8	Equatorial Guinea	Africa	22.0	9	31.3	15	10.8	2.9
9	Belarus	Europe	21.4	5	39.3	45	6.2	6.34
10	South Korea	Asia	20.2	11	29.6	11	11.6	2.55

World Suicide Prevention Day Quotes

Anyone desperate enough for suicide should be desperate enough to go to creative extremes to solve problems: elope at midnight, stow away on the boat to New Zealand and start over, do what they always wanted to do but were afraid to try. – Richard Bach

If you want to show me that you really love me, don’t say that you would die for me, instead stay alive for me. – Unknown

When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn. – Harriet Beecher Stowe