World Mental Health Day, on 10 October, is a day for us to unite in our efforts to raise awareness and mobilize people around the world about mental health. The theme selected for this year’s Day is suicide prevention, and the role that everyone can play to prevent it.
Around 800,000 people die due to suicide each year worldwide, and many more attempt suicide. In the Region of the Americas, almost 100,000 people die by suicide each year. Every suicide is a tragedy that affects a family, a community or a whole country; and it has long time consequences in all those who are close to the victim. Suicide occurs in every age group, and it is the second leading cause of death in young people aged 15-29 years.
See more:
- World Mental Health Day 2019 (WHO)
- Plan of Action on Mental Health 2015-2020 (PAHO)
- Suicide Prevention (PAHO)
- Mental Health and Substance Use Unit (PAHO)
- Young people and mental health in a changing world
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