Approximately 800,000 people die due to suicide each year, which is the second leading cause of death in the world for those aged 15-24 years old according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Studies show mental health issues are spiking in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, weaving together a multitude of dire public health issues into one. Public health is complex and synergistic; the context of one’s environment—the social determinants of health—feed into health behaviors which in turn, affect health outcomes. For example, discrimination has led to high suicide rates among vulnerable groups, such as refugees and migrants; indigenous peoples; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex (LGBTI) persons; and prisoners. In the United States, suicide rates are disproportionately high among American Indians and Alaska Native Populations.
September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day, a reminder that suicide can be prevented and will need further action and policy efforts. The WHO has made the following recommendations on ways to address suicide prevention through policy channels:
- Designing school-based interventions;
- Introducing alcohol policies to reduce the harmful use of alcohol;
- Early identification, treatment and care of people with mental and substance use disorders, chronic pain and acute emotional distress;
- Training of non-specialized health workers in the assessment and management of suicidal behavior; and,
- Follow-up care for people who attempted suicide and provision of community support.
If you believe that you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please do not hesitate to reach out to the U.S. National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 800-273-8255. Additionally, The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has outlined suicide warning signs which can be helpful for quickly recognizing when action is needed. To explore more details regarding suicide prevention, check out the WHO Report on Preventing Suicide in the GHELI Repository.