World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10)
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.[1] 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.[2] In 2011 an estimated 40 countries held awareness events to mark the occasion.[3] The United Nations issued 'National Policy for Suicide Prevention' in the 1990s which some countries use as a basis for their suicide policies.[4]
Message from the President of IASP
Ella Arensman, writes her column as President of the IASP about how we can make a better case for suicide prevention to national governments and policy makes:
HOW CAN WE MAKE A BETTER CASE?
How can we make a better case for suicide prevention to national governments and policy makers?
This question is recurrently running through my head, particularly now, when in Ireland a new framework for suicide prevention in Ireland is being prepared following the 10-year Reach Out, National Strategy for Action in Suicide Prevention.
Addressing this challenge is also timely considering recent international developments. Last year, the World Health Assembly adopted the WHO Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013–2010 (Saxena et al, 2013). This implies a commitment by all 194 WHO member states to strengthen effective leadership and governance for mental health and to take specified actions to improve mental health. In connection with World Suicide Prevention Day 2014, the WHO will launch the World Suicide Report (WSR). This report follows the adoption of the WHO Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013–2020’, which commits all member states to reducing their suicide rates by 10% by 2020.
Overall, professionals working in suicide research and prevention (including myself) don't focus enough on translating their findings and insights for government and policy representatives, which limits the impact of their valuable work.
The following suggestions are based on research and experience in working with government and policy re- presentatives over many years. For the purpose of this column I made a selection and therefore the listing is by no means exhaustive.
Connect with government and policy representa- tives and establish an on-going dialogue with those responsible for policy development and impleme- ntation in suicide prevention by updating them on emerging priorities in suicide prevention and research, for example by inviting them to meetings, providing newsletters, briefings etc. This may contribute to positive and effective working relationships, enhanced know- ledge, and reduced stigma and anxiety amongst those involved in suicide prevention policy. This links in with one of the objectives of World Suicide Prevention Day 2014, please see WSPD brochure 2014, http://iasp. info/wspd/pdf/2014/2014_wspd_brochure.pdf)
Evidence informed strategic actions and national suicide prevention programmes. Even though in many countries there is growing understanding of the importance of evidence informed prevention programmes among government and policy represen- tatives, they often don't have access to real-time and accurate data on suicide, non-fatal self-harm, and up- to-date information on effective programmes. Therefore, the development of real-time suicide and self-harm surveillance systems should be a priority. For example, access to real-time data will contribute to early identi- fication of emerging suicide clusters or use of 'new' suicide methods, and can be communicated to those in policy in a timely manner. Regular briefings, including up-to-date information on effective intervention and prevention programmes, written in common language should be provided as well, as policy makers usually don't read detailed peer review papers or textbooks.
On-going engagement with other key stakeholders should be established from the start of developing a national suicide prevention programme, in order to en-sure buy-in and shared responsibility by relevant sectors, such as health, education and legal sectors. In countries where suicide by pesticides is a major problem, the agricultural sector should be involved, and in coun- tries where railway suicides or jumping from bridges are prevalent, the transport sector should be involved. A complete overview of relevant stakeholders is provided in: Public Health Action for the Prevention of Suicide (WHO, 2012).
Sustainability of best practice and effective inter- vention/ prevention programmes. Whilst moving from individual actions to a national suicide pre- vention programme, or from a first to a second natio- nal suicide prevention programme, government and policy representatives may express the view that “now is the time to start something completely new!” As a consequence, effective interventions may be lost. There- fore, it would be important to convey the message that whilst moving into a next phase of suicide prevention, it is critical to build on successful interventions and ensure wider implementation. In this regard it may be helpful to establish links between people who actually have benefited from specific interventions and policy makers as this will contribute to making a stronger case compared to just providing an evaluation report.
Focus on suicide mortality and morbidity. There is a tendency among government and policy represen- tatives to focus primarily on suicide and to under-estimate the importance of non-fatal self-harm. Considering the challenges of people who engage in non-fatal self-harm and who suffer from mental health pro-blems (e.g. de- pression, anxiety and substance abuse) in terms of their quality of life and risk of suicide, the case should be made to prioritise this vulnerable group.
An implementation plan including allocation of resources should be included as part of a national suicide prevention programme. Without such a plan, the stakeholders involved in implementing the programme are at risk of departing on a 'mission impossible'. This may require detailed negotiation with government and policy representatives. However, if a constructive dia- logue has been established (point 1), this is likely to be feasible objective.
Persistence in making the case for suicide prevention is a fundamental requirement in this specific area.
I sometimes find myself repeating the same information again and again…, in particular when government and policy representatives rotate, which occurs frequently.
I don't mind, as long as we achieve making the case for suicide prevention, and as long as we make steps forward. Even the smallest step counts!
Ella Arensman, PhD
Upcoming IASP Events
Suicide Prevention: One World Cenected
The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) is dedicated to:
- preventing suicidal behaviour,
- alleviating its effects, and
- providing a forum for academics, mental health professionals, crisis workers, volunteers and suicide survivors.
Founded by the late Professor Erwin Ringel and Dr. Norman Farberow in 1960, IASP now includes professionals and volunteers from more than fifty different countries. IASP is a Non-Governmental Organization in official relationship with the World Health Organization (WHO) concerned with suicide prevention.
The 28th World Congress of the International Association for Suicide Prevention
XXVIII IASP World Congress
New Discoveries and Technologies in Suicide Prevention
Montréal, Québec, Canada
The 28th World Congress of the International Association for Suicide Prevention, in collaboration with the Quebec Suicide Prevention Association, the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention and Suicide Action Montreal, will be held from June 16-20, 2015 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The congress theme is New Discoveries and Technologies in Suicide Prevention. For further information, please click here to contact Professor Brian Mishara.
Source: iasp.info; en.wikipedia.org
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Notes:
- "Alaska Observes World Suicide Prevention Day and Alaska Suicide Prevention Month". SitNews. 11 September 2004. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
- "Suicide in the U.S.A. Based on Current (2007) Statistics". American Association of Suicidology. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
- QMI Agency (10 September 2011). "Inuit youth celebrate life on World Suicide Day". London Free Press. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
- "Press Conference by World Health Organization on Suicide Prevention" (Press Conference). United Nations Department of Public Information. 8 September 2006. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
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