World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) is an awareness day observed on 10 September every year, in order to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides, with various activities around the world. The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), collaborates with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Federation for Mental Health, to host World Suicide Prevention Day.
Click below to see the video of this year's IASP president's address.
http://youtu.be/ollRR2x6JnA
The theme for this years World Suicide Prevention Day is " Stigma, a major barrier to Suicide Prevention"
According to the HSE’s National Office for Suicide Prevention, it is estimated that 507 people died by suicide across the country in 2012. There are significant social and regional differences with certain parts of the country showing much higher rates of suicide than others and a high proportion of young men taking their own lives: for every 10 suicides in Ireland, 8 of them are men.
While there is an increasing awareness of suicide in communities and a willingness to provide assistance from many agencies and groups to those who come forward asking for help, there is still a major problem with the stigma attached to suicide.
In his address yesterday to the Console World Suicide Prevention conference, President Michael D Higgins remarked that "It is time for our society to start talking openly, honestly and without fear about issues of marginality, exclusion, insecurity and the vulnerabilities they bring with them.The stigmatized person is devalued, rejected and scorned. But, the greatest tragedy of all is that stigma keeps people from seeking help. "
The Dundalk Positive Mental Health Forum which was formed during 2013 in Dundalk aims to make people aware of the various groups and associations which are available when someone is faced with a mental health issue. SOSAD, SHINE, GROW, The Outcomers, are just some of the groups which actively provide information, counselling, or just someone to talk to.
During the first week in October there will be a series of events organised by the Dundalk Positive Mental Health Forum to mark World Mental Health Week 2013.
Further details to follow!
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