National Suicide Prevention Week is the Sunday through Saturday surrounding World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10th. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about one million people die by suicide every year; this represents a “global” mortality rate of 16 per 100,000, or one death every 40 seconds. Suicide rates in many developing countries have been steadily rising in recent years.

Suicide Prevention Week, the second week of September, celebrates all those who are working to prevent suicide and raises awareness about suicidal behaviors. Suicide is a complex and multi-dimensional problem that encompasses numerous people throughout the world. The World Health Organization notes that over 1 million people commit suicide every year and that it is the leading cause of death among teenagers and adults under the age of 35.   
 
With our younger generation growing, it’s more important now than ever to take part in preventing suicide and encouraging people to become informed about its warning signs.

What are the signs and symptoms for suicide? 

Warning signs that an individual is imminently planning to kill themselves may include the person making a will, getting his or her affairs in order, suddenly visiting friends or family members (one last time), buying instruments of suicide like a gun, hose, rope or medications, a sudden and significant decline or improvement in mood, or writing a suicide note. Contrary to popular belief, many people who complete suicide do not tell their therapist or any other mental-health professional they plan to kill themselves in the months before they do so. If they communicate their plan to anyone, it is more likely to be someone with whom they are personally close, like a friend or family member.

Individuals who take their lives tend to suffer from severe anxiety, symptoms of which may include moderate alcohol abuse, insomnia, severe agitation, loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy (anhedonia), hopelessness, and persistent thoughts about the possibility of something bad happening. Since suicidal behaviors are often quite impulsive, removing firearms, medications, knives, and other instruments people often use to kill themselves can allow the individual time to think more clearly and perhaps choose a more rational way of coping with their pain.

If you think someone might be in trouble DO SOMETHING.

For more information visit: http://www.iasp.info/wspd/index.php