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Changing the Narrative: Commemorating People in World Suicide Prevention Month

By Timm Jahred De Jesus

Ever since the primordial state of World Suicide Prevention Month, in each continent, their government and its citizens have raised awareness about the critical global condition issue that affects individuals, their families, and communities. To begin with, World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) was organized back in 2003 in concomitance with the World Health Organization (WHO), wherein advocacy and communication were established based on the events that had happened in the preceding years of 2003. The goal of World Suicide Prevention Day and Month is to give a brief insight into suicide and make remarks towards national organizations, governments, and the general public to their respective countries and communities, providing a single message that suicide can be averted.

The first-ever World Suicide Prevention Day was favorably launched in Stockholm on the 10th of September 2003. Even though this awareness was only created in 2003 or 21 years ago, WSPD recommences yearly; with recent studies, professionals have stated more than 60 countries contain hundreds of events, from educational and commemorative events to press briefings and public conferences. Social Media and the Internet have also had their effect, for millions of people around the globe have linked themselves to WSPD on September 10th, and in 2020, when the IASP produced a film called “Step Closer” that had been viewed over 30 million times. This demonstrates how powerful social media and the internet can raise awareness about WSPD.

In 2016, IASP and WHO collaborated on a global suicide prevention mission to give out ribbons. This is because they hoped that the suicide prevention awareness ribbon would be recognized around the globe, like the other ribbons like blue ribbons, red ribbons, white ribbons, etc. You may remember the ribbon as a mixture of yellow and orange colors to make it look standout. The two-toned ribbon shows a characteristic of a candle’s flame related to the IASP campaign called “Light a Candle”.

In partnership with IASP, inter-government agencies, governments, NGOs, international and national associations, clinicians, researchers, and volunteers, the press briefly released on the day of its launch a statement, “World Suicide Prevention Day aims to put the issue on the agenda globally and regionally, but it also seeks to show that action must be taken locally – and this action starts with you and me. The Day underlines the responsibility for all of us to help save lives at stake. It is possible – we can do it.”

This 2024, regarding the responses to the impact of suicide on different communities around the world, the WSPD has chosen the role of “Changing the Narrative on Suicide.” For further comprehension, this theme is about shifting the focus surrounding suicide and transforming it into how people should perceive it as a positive change for such a complex issue. This requires a systematic change. This is also about modifying from a culture of norms about suicide and its stigma to a more open understanding filled with support. The desired method is to advocate for better policies and legislation to prioritize mental health, have a better inclination toward access to care, and provide more support for those who need it. To be succinct, this will need an extensive amount of research to understand the convolution of suicide better and develop evidence-based practices to lend out to the community.

Everyone around the globe has had a fair share of treatment of injustices that may have led to thoughts of killing one’s self. September is such an important month for those mentally diagnosed or undiagnosed patients, for this provides a sustainable foundation for spreading awareness that suicide can be averted. The history of WPSD/WPSM has come a long way, and maintaining a steadfast cycle of educating yourself under these circumstances can create a speech of voice for those who are unheard.

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