By: Prof. (Dr.) Mohd Aleem Siddiqui, MD (Psychiatry), DPM & Sr. Associate Editor-ICN Group
LUCKNOW: This year, the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) has decided to make “suicide prevention” the main theme of World Mental Health Day.
World Mental Health Day is observed on 10 October every year, with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues and mobilizing efforts in support of better mental health.
According to the WHO, more than 800,000 people die by suicide a year, making it the principal cause of death among people fifteen to twenty-nine years old.
Everyone can make a contribution to prevent suicide. Suicide is universal and knows no boundaries so it affects everyone.Mental health and suicide are still heavily stigmatised, and these stigmas remain major obstacles to suicide prevention efforts.
“Stress is any uncomfortable emotional experience accompanied by predictable biochemical,physiological and behavioral changes.It is body’s reaction to a change that demands emotional, physical and mental adjustment. It can be any threat either real or perceived.
According to World Federation for Mental Health, the organisation behind the day, which was celebrated for the first time in 1992.
The World Health Organisation is all set to launch a “40 seconds of action” campaign on 10th October – World Mental Health Day to raise awareness of the scale of suicide around the world and the role that every individual can play to help in preventing it.
The campaign is mainly based on the observation that every 40 seconds, someone loses their life to suicide.On World Mental Health Day, the WHO is urging each one of us to learn more about suicide prevention and reach out to those who are struggling with suicidal thoughts or self-harm.