How You Can Make a Difference on World Suicide Prevention Day 2024

We can’t save lives and alleviate suffering without addressing the global mental health crisis, including cases of suicide. The numbers are alarming—one person commits suicide every 11 minutes. According to the World Health Organization, over 700,000 deaths are suicide-related. Today, it has become the fourth leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year-olds.

Mental illness, a leading risk factor in suicide, is considered part of the country’s health crisis, with 1 out of 5 adults experiencing it in their lifetime. Globally, an estimated 5% of the world population suffers from depression, mental health condition that can lead to suicide.

Changing the Narrative of Suicide

World Suicide Prevention Day is held every September 10th of the year. The occasion challenges us to confront the crisis by making everyone aware of how important it is to seek mental healthcare. 

Its triennial theme for 2024 to 2026 is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide,” with a call to “Start the Conversation.” It hopes to address the negative perception of mental illnesses and highlight the urgency of curbing the suicide epidemic.

IMANA recognizes the stigma attached to having mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, etc., making it difficult for mentally unwell individuals to seek help. For many communities, access to mental healthcare professionals is not easily available. This contributes to the rising number of suicides. 

Stopping the Stigma, Opening the Flow of Conversations

Suicide can be prevented and IMANA encourages everyone to get involved. 

We believe there is a pressing need to raise awareness and educate various sectors about mental health. This can help shift the perspective from one of stigma to one of understanding and support. 

World Suicide Prevention Day aims to make mental health part of regular conversations so that healing can start.  IMANA is joining this call by amplifying this message through our programs, network,  and educational platforms. 

Cause and Cure

While mental illness is a risk factor in suicide, suicide is multifactorial without a single solution. People from wide demographics consider and attempt suicide for various reasons. 

Suicide has a far-reaching impact on families, communities, societies, and the world, slowly eroding the hope of victims and their families. 

A multisectoral, data-driven public health approach is a step in the right direction because it addresses the risk factors of suicide, including relationship, community, and societal factors. An individual’s environment and socio-economic profile can play a role in their physical and mental well-being. This includes their risk for suicide. Suicide is tied to various environments and experiences from physical illness and substance abuse, to social isolation, poverty, trauma, and community violence. 

IMANA approaches the issue from a holistic view, providing immediate and practical help to populations at risk of suicide. We also focus on war-torn communities, disaster-stricken regions, and marginalized and low-income communities. 

IMANA Cares: Access To Professional Mental Healthcare 

Apart from our medical relief programs, humanitarian endeavors in at-risk communities, and mentoring initiatives, IMANA’s education and advocacy activities contribute to the solution by offering information and access to mental healthcare professionals. 

There are various ways to be of service. As a licensed mental health professional you can amplify the call to mental health support and suicide prevention by hosting a webinar and educating your community on mental health and related topics.

If you are a Muslim mental healthcare professional, you could also sign up for our recently launched directory of Muslim mental health professionals in the North American region. Our free and growing directory and list of resources provide an easy way to seek expert help.

Our network includes psychologists, psychiatrists, licensed counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed master social workers, and more across North America. 

A Safe Space 

IMANA is a safe space where people suffering in silence from mental conditions can seek guidance towards suitable treatment options. This can be done concurrently with religious guidance via your imam if you’re Muslim or your church’s cleric if you belong to a different faith. 

IMANA does not discriminate and our goal is to bridge the gap between available professional mental healthcare services and limited access.  Support is often restrictive due to various factors like social stigma, poverty, war-torn environments, lack of information, and economic limitations. 

We protect your privacy by adhering to national standards set by the  Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)’s privacy rule.  Mental health professionals are also taught to respect and protect their patients’ mental health condition and treatment journey.  

 

What To Do if You or a Family Member Has Thoughts of Suicide

It is crucial to know how to deal with suicidal thoughts as well as how to prevent suicide.

– Get help from a healthcare provider ASAP.

– Encourage conversations about feelings and thoughts. Do not be alone or leave your family members alone. 

– Avoid agitation and stay calm.

– Keep a support network that includes family and friends. 

– Seek support and guidance from helplines such as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

– Keep yourself or your family member away from substances like alcohol or illegal drugs. 

– Remove access to weapons and dangerous materials.

Safety is the foremost goal of these responses and it is important to seek professional help immediately. 

Join Our Mission 

Suicide is tied to social and economic conditions. Together, we can share our resources in order to advance mental healthcare and suicide prevention while addressing risk factors worldwide.   

Mental health can hit close to home, and so we urge you to help us in our mission to prevent suicide rates from rising. We encourage the public to get involved by making one-time or regular donations, volunteering in our relief and philanthropic missions, creating a fund-raiser, joining our relevant CME events, participating in our mentorship programs, signing up for our directory, hosting our webinars, and more. 

Contact us to know how to get involved. This will allow us to reach out to more vulnerable communities and keep them from making irreversible and self-destructive decisions.