Preventing suicides by working together

World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) on 10 September is organized by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) with the purpose of creating awareness around the globe that suicide can be prevented.

- C. JOSEPH

Suicides by people of all ages, particularly the young, are on the increase on a daily basis, quite unlike before, and that too by people whom we least expect to take an extreme step like suicide. It is only a united effort by all concerned at all levels that can put an end to this ever-increasing menace. To begin with, we need to keep in mind the following, and act accordingly:

Threats of suicide should always be taken seriously. Always act on the cry for help, however insignificant you feel the cause of the threat is. We are dealing with people in pain and their perceptions are not necessarily close to everyday reality. In the majority of cases, an actual suicide is the result of a temporary mental aberration or instability — the person is just off-balance rather than insane. An anxious event or something quite small pushes him/ her beyond his/her limits of personal normal functioning and control. There are social pressures too, that increase the likelihood of suicide.