Every 40 seconds someone loses their life to suicide.
Suicide does not take away the pain, it gives it to someone else. Every death is a tragedy for family, friends and colleagues. 
September 10th is World Suicide Prevention Day.
This year, World Health Organization has launched a “40 Seconds of Action” campaign to raise awareness of the scale of suicide around the world and the role that each of us can play to help prevent it. The culmination of the campaign will be on World Mental Health Day, 10 October, the focus of which is also suicide prevention this year.
In this campaign, everyone is encouraged to take “40 Seconds of Action” in order to help:
- Improve awareness of the significance of suicide as a global public health problem
- Improve knowledge of what can be done to prevent suicide
- Reduce the stigma associated with suicide
- Let people who are struggling know that they are not alone.
Put simply, this is an opportunity to show you care.
Here are some more ideas:
- If you are struggling, take 40 seconds to kick-start a conversation with someone you trust about how you are feeling.
- If you know someone who has lost a loved one to suicide, take 40 seconds to start a conversation and ask them how they are doing.
- If you work in media, highlight the 40-second statistic in interviews, articles and blog posts.
- If you are an employer or manager, take 40 seconds to formulate a positive message of support to your employees about resources available to them in the workplace or local community in times of mental distress.
- If you want your leaders to hear your request for action, record a 40-second audio clip or video telling them the action you want them to take on suicide prevention and mental health.
- If you have a platform for communicating with a large audience (social media, television, radio), provide 40-second slots for sharing mental health stories and messages.
Suicide Prevention is possible. If all of us work together, we can increase awareness of this public health issue and get people the support they need.
Here are four ways to reduce the number of suicides:
1. Have Meaningful Social Connections
Social connections help us live longer, stronger and happier lives. Strive to make or maintain quality and meaningful relationships.
2. Know the Warning Signs
Suicide has more than just one cause. Factors such as substance misuse and untreated mental illness can lead to a higher risk for suicide in individuals.
3. Identify Whether You or Someone Else Has Specific Mental Health Needs
Detecting the often hidden symptoms of mental illness early and finding the right treatment options for mental illness can help most people return to living mentally well.
4. Seek Help for Yourself or Someone Else
If you’re worried about your, or someone else’s, suicidal thoughts or feelings, it’s important to reach out for help. There are many support options available for dealing with suicidal thoughts or feelings.
If you know someone who has indicated they are contemplating suicide, take them seriously. Encourage them to seek help from a mental health professional and don’t leave them alone. Let’s work together to prevent suicide and make a difference in someone’s life.
My other posts on #SuicidePrevention are
Stigma : A Barrier to Suicide Prevention (2013)
Connect for Suicide Prevention (2014)
28 Responses
An excellent initiative! Suicides seem to be on the rise. It’s a worldwide issue that needs to be addressed.
I’m glad there is an initiative like this, Shilpa. Thanks for writing about it. It is indeed valuable information for many.
I pray more and more people come from a place of compassion and understanding and help combat this dreadful act.
Thanks for writing.
I am glad to read this shilpa; reading your post is motivating me, thanks for sharing. This is such an important topic and everyday people are dying … lets spread the word.
Very useful post, Shilpa! I hope this information can reach those who need help right now. It is a silent epidemic that ails our modern society and the least we can do is to raise awareness about it.
Excellent initiative.
Understanding and observing signs is so important, yet extremely difficult sometimes. This is an excellent initiative. Thank you for spreading the message
Knowing the warning signs of depression and mental trauma that leads to suicide are so crucial. Nothing can be worse than a person ending up taking his own life.
This is a great initiative by the World Health Organization. Good on you for spreading the word…I will do my bit as well. If something as little as 40 seconds can help save a life, I don’t see why all of us cannot participate.
A lot of suicides are ruining many lives not just the persons but his her family suffers too. Best is to stay positive and believe in oneself.
I liked this idea of spending 40 seconds to begin a conversation on suicides. How many lives will be saved! It really takes reaching out to that person who feels left alone, misunderstood, uncared for. And, I believe, there’s one such person in every group of 5, who needs those precious 40 seconds of hearing the words that show that they are cared for and that they can get out of it with our help.
WIll work on this thought and do my bit. Thanks so much, Shilpa!
One important thing to note here is that what leads a person to suicidal tendencies is unique to that person.
There is no point in making comparisons and telling such persons, “See how other people in worse conditions are managing, so why can’t you …”
Very often what such people need are ears that are willing to listen, shoulders they can lean on, words that are inspiring, and open arms that accept them as they are.
Thanks for sharing this post this is really important to understand the value of life. Suicide is increasing day by day and so important to create awareness among people
I deeply appreciate the 40 seconds initiative Shilpa and promise to do my bit to the extent I can. At the moment everyday in my academy I try my best to guide women against it
This is a wonderful initiative. So rightly said it doesn’t end suffering but transfers it to someone else. Timely intervention through conversations and treatment can save a life.
Glad to read this post. We should spread more awareness around this topic. Especially among teenagers and youngsters.
So true 40 seconds is all it takes, but unfortunately today people don’t even have those 40 seconds. Also we need to consider mental health seriously.
Mental health is important to fight this problem at s nascent level Three of my batchmates were lost to this.
Even I have written about Suicide and trust me as most say it isnt an act of cowardice but there are feelings that one cannot fight anymore. this is a great initiative.
Its always good to share if you have any kind of depression or even we should give ears and listen to problem…Its not good to attempt such step which gives pain to loved ones
Thanks for these tips! One of my cousin attempted to suicide last year we are still in shock! I will keep these tips in mind.
There is so much peer pressure on everyone to perform these days and the number of Suicide is on a rise. Glad you chose to write about it. Great initiative
Never want anybody to be in this situation. suicide is really not a solution for anything
Great initiative and wonderful post. We should more aware of the suicidal tendency facts so that we can also help the people who are needed badly.
I have once read, every person who commits suicide gives some signal before. We have to be very cautious and be aware about these signs from our closed ones or friends.
many suicides are preventable if people around act up and take actions quickly. counselling with people, talking to them helps.
This is an informative post and so good. We can prevent suicide by listening and talking to those people and make them feel good.
I am so glad that there are initiatives like these . Suicide is a very real problem and most of the time it is overlooked as people in need don’t get the required help . This compassion is very much required
Suicides can be avoided with more awareness and more social connect
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