Mental Health Day: Every 40 seconds someone is taking own life

Hyderabad: World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) has announced 10th of October as World Mental Health Day in 1992.  Since then the event is observed, every year with a new theme.
According to available information, every year about 800,000 people die due to suicide, which makes it one suicide every 40 seconds. Hence, this year’s theme is “40 Seconds of Action”.
The main objective of the WFMH is to raise awareness about the surging numbers of suicide deaths.
‘Suicide Prevention’ is the theme of World Mental Health Day World Mental Health Day (10 October) is dedicated to global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma. WMHD is observed every year to raise awareness about issues about mental health, provide education on related subjects and advocate against the social stigma attached to such matters. This year WFMH has made ‘Suicide Prevention’ its main theme. WFMH is observed in more than 100 countries through local, regional and national agencies. Numerous programs are conducted which include signing the World Mental Health Day proclamation, public service announcements, lectures, and distribution of research papers on the related subjects.
Suicide is a global public health problem that deserves the attention of all the actors in the field of mental health, including scientific and professional organizations, agencies for mental health users and their families and universities.
It is often believed that it is only adults who exhibit suicidal behaviors. But it should be known that many children and young people engage in this kind of behavior as a result of stress, violence, sexual abuse, substance abuse, bullying, cyberbullying and many other reasons that may lead to suicide.