World Suicide Prevention Day

Every year on September 10, World Suicide Prevention Day people across the globe to come together to raise awareness, offer support, and help prevent suicide.

It is organized by the International Association for Suicide Prevention in collaboration with the World Health Organization.

This observance shines a spotlight on the urgent need for open conversations about mental health, emotional well-being, and the barriers that keep people from asking for help.

How it Started

World Suicide Prevention Day was first observed on September 10, 2003, as a joint initiative by the International Association for Suicide Prevention and the World Health Organization.

The goal was clear: to shine a global spotlight on the silent crisis of suicide and to encourage action through awareness, education, and compassion.

The idea came at a time when suicide had become a growing concern around the world, affecting millions of lives but often remaining hidden due to stigma, silence, and cultural taboos.

Recognizing the urgent need for open dialogue, WSPD was launched to unite communities, governments, professionals, and individuals in support of suicide prevention.

Each year since, WSPD has been marked with campaigns, events, and grassroots initiatives in countries across the globe.

In its first few years, the movement quickly gained momentum, with over 40 countries participating by 2011. 

WSPD supports WHO’s mental health goals, highlighting the need for national policies, open dialogue, accessible care, and strong community support.

Despite progress, many countries, especially low-income ones still lack proper infrastructure to address suicide prevention effectively.

Suicide Statistics and Key Facts

• Around 727,000 people die by suicide each year globally, that’s roughly one person every 40 seconds.

• Suicide accounts for over 1% of all deaths worldwide, making it a major global public health concern.

• Low- and middle-income countries see about 73% of all suicide deaths, despite often lacking strong mental health support systems.

• Men are over twice as likely to die by suicide compared to women, though women attempt suicide more often.

• Suicide is the third leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 29, highlighting the vulnerability of youth.

• For every suicide death, there are over 20 suicide attempts, showing just how widespread the crisis is.

• Suicide rates have declined by over 35% globally since 2000, but progress is uneven and not fast enough.

• The global average suicide rate in 2021 was about 8.9 per 100,000 people.

• Access to lethal means, such as pesticides, firearms, or certain medications, is a significant risk factor for suicide.

• Some of the highest national suicide rates have been recorded in places like Lesotho, Greenland, Guyana, and South Korea.

• Countries with the lowest rates include Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt.

• Suicide claims more lives than war, murder, or natural disasters combined.

• In the United States alone, over 49,000 people died by suicide in 2023, making it one of the leading causes of death.

• Firearms account for over half of suicide deaths in the U.S.

• Stigma, lack of mental health resources, and cultural taboos continue to hinder suicide prevention efforts worldwide.