World Suicide Prevention Day


Today is World Suicide Prevention Day

In Australia, suicide is the biggest killer of men under the age of 44. 

More young people die from suicide than from car accidents.

Every day 6 people die from committing suicide and another 179 attempt suicide.

Every year approximately 21,000 friends and families suffer as a result of someone they loved dying from suicide.

Every day 1,250 people call Lifeline (crisis, suicide and mental health support) in need of someone to talk to.

According to the World Health Organization, there is 1 death, every 40 seconds in the world - 1 million people die every year and another 10-20 million attempt suicide.


We all probably know at least one person who has died as a result of taking their own life.  Suicide is a preventable death, however the reasons why people commit suicide are complex and difficult to solve.  As a result, suicide needs to be out in the open and talked about to remove the stigma associated with suicide and perhaps reduce the rate, especailly among young men.

Lets look out for others and put a stop suicide deaths.

Comments

  1. I didn't know that today it is this day. Suicide - it is difficult topic. From the Christian view - especially difficult. I think that it isn't our thing to judge these people, because most suicides are commited because of deep depression or other mental disease and we don't know these people. Greetings for You :)

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  2. Thank you for making this day aware Jo, suicide breaks my heart. I have used your top picture on facebook. :D

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  3. One thing we need to remember, suicide is not absolutely preventable. Sometimes, no matter what everyone does, including the health system, a person will suicide. Many people feel like they have failed, as the media message is one of absolute prevention. It is like cancer and heart disease, not all illness is curable, not all people can be stopped, those left should be allowed to grieve without guilt, and the health system (in which I work) is not always to blame - though at times, our response is less than adequate. If the general public knew how many people come to our doors threatening suicide, as compared to how many actually do, then work out, as our staff have to, which to admit and which to send home, they will understand why at times, we get it wrong, as hundreds threaten suicide to the very few who are actually willing to go through with it, and bed numbers are treating clinicians have a ceiling. It is one of the hardest things to treat, as it is not like cancer, where it is a visible disease. All that said, we can try harder, and do more.

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  4. Stephen, couldn't agree more. We tend to use the word "preventable death" as that is the category it falls into, but when a person is so desperate to kill themselves, no one can save them and it must be heart breaking for those trying to determine who to help and to send back home. I just work with the statistics so very remote from the people and their lives.

    You only need to look at the stats for self-harm, many are crying out for help but don't want to die - however a number of those that do self-harm will attempt suicide down the track. I can't imagine the darkness these people expereince where they see no hope at all - it must be a living hell.

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  5. Suicide is so very sad. :( I've known of several people who have died from suicide and a few who have attempted it too. Some of those who suicide or attempt it just need some hope (often just knowing the Lord would make a difference), but others already know Him and have lost all hope regardless. Either way, it is VERY sad.

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  6. These are very sad and disturbing things.

    I don't know if you were aware that William Cowper, the great hymn writer, was much afflicted by emotional and mental disorders. At Cowper's funeral (he died of other causes), John Newton told how Cowper had been suicidal for seven years. "The first temptation the enemy assaulted him with was to offer up himself as Abraham his son. He verily thought he ought to do it. We were obliged to watch with him night and day. I, my dear wife and Mrs. Unwin with whom he lived left him not an hour for seven years." -- John Newton (I compiled some information on Cowper's life in my article on depression: http://www.homemakerscorner.com/depression-cowper.htm)

    A very close friend of our family lost his brother to suicide this year. I don't think there was anything they could have done more than what they did. The poor young man had been troubled and treated for several years, but apparently nothing would avail. It was extremely sad.

    Psalms 147:2-3 The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

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