World Suicide Prevention Day 2024, 10 September
“Changing the narrative on suicide”
#WorldSuicidePreventionDay
The theme for World Suicide Prevention Day for 2024-2026 is "Changing the Narrative on Suicide" with the call to action "Start the Conversation". This theme aims to raise awareness about the importance of reducing stigma and encouraging open conversations to prevent suicides. Changing the narrative on suicide is about transforming how we perceive this complex issue and shifting from a culture of silence and stigma to one of openness, understanding, and support.
The call to action encourages everyone to start the conversation on suicide and suicide prevention. Every conversation, no matter how small, contributes to a supportive and understanding society. By initiating these vital conversations, we can break down barriers, raise awareness, and create better cultures of support.
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This theme also emphasises the need to prioritise suicide prevention and mental health in policy-making, calling for government action. Changing the narrative requires advocating for policies that prioritise mental health, increase access to care, and provide support for those in need.
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Key Facts:
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds.
Seventy-three per cent of global suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries.
The reasons for suicide are multi-faceted, influenced by social, cultural, biological, psychological, and environmental factors present across the life course.
For every suicide, there are many more people who attempt suicide. A prior suicide attempt is an important risk factor for suicide in the general population.
Find out how you can help promote this important campaign at https://www.iasp.info/wspd/
Helping Adolescents Thrive Toolkit
This Tool Kit provides strategies to promote and protect adolescent mental health and reduce self-harm and other risk behaviours.
​​This publication, produced by the World Health Organization and UNICEF, has been developed to support the implementation of the WHO Guidelines on mental health promotive and preventive interventions for adolescents, released in 2020. The Toolkit includes a core set of evidence-informed strategies to promote and protect adolescent mental health. These strategies focus on implementing and enforcing laws and policies, environments to promote and protect adolescent mental health, providing support to parents and other caregivers, and psychosocial interventions for adolescents, including for groups exposed to vulnerabilities. Tools to guide implementation and examples of programmes already introduced in countries across regions are included.
