Behind every suicide is a tragic story that went untold. If someone bothers to lend an ear, a life could be saved, say experts working towards suicide prevention as over 50 per cent of suicide victims are prone to changing their minds if a friend or family member heard their problems out.
According to the World Health Organization, on an average, almost 3,000 people kill themselves every day. For every person who takes his/her own life, 20 or more may attempt to kill themselves.
September 10 is observed as World Suicide Prevention Day to create awareness worldwide at preventing suicide, raising awareness that suicide is preventable, improving education about suicide, decreasing stigmatisation regarding suicide, amongst others.
According to statistics from the national crime records bureau, in 2011, 2,438 people in Chennai and 15,963 people in TN and 1,35,585 persons in India committed suicide.
Sneha, an organisation that works towards suicide prevention, says that suicide is a major preventable cause of premature death, which is influenced by psychosocial, cultural and environmental risk factors that can be prevented through responses that address these main risk factors. “Anyone who is on the verge of taking the extreme step is sure to drop hints.
They will appear dejected and depressed through the day and isolate themselves. It is for friends and family to watch out for such signs and lend a helping hand,” says Ms Anjana Raju, director of Sneha.