Today is World Suicide Prevention Day, an awareness day observed every year in order to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides. This day provides a special opportunity to focus energy on addressing this fundamental problem and to inspire people worldwide towards the goal of developing new methods for eradicating stigma.
Losing her own mother to suicide, Melissa is dedicated to helping raise the volume on the national conversation about suicide – prevention, awareness, and help for survivors. As such, Melissa supports the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in its tireless work to fund scientific research and provide resources for those struggling and for survivors.
The Facts
The hard truth is that a suicide attempt happens every minute of every day, and every 14 minutes, someone in the U.S. dies by suicide. More than 38,000 people in the U.S. die by suicide every year and there are more than 700,000 attempts serious enough to require medical care. Nearly one million people worldwide die by suicide every year, which corresponds to one death by suicide every 40 seconds. These statistics are staggering and yet remain hidden and not discussed. However, it is important to know that suicide can be prevented. More than 90 percent of people who die by suicide, have a diagnosable, often untreated, mental illness at the time of their death. With early intervention and treatment, many suicides can be prevented.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO SUPPORT WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY?
Visit American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s website, www.afsp.org, to learn about suicide warning signs and suicide risk factors. Learning the facts can save lives.
Show your support on social media using hashtag #WorldWithoutSuicide.
Light a candle near a window at 8:00PM in support of World Suicide Prevention Day, suicide prevention and awareness, survivors of suicide, and for the memory of lost loved ones.
Learn more about Melissa’s work with American Foundation for Suicide Prevention here.
