Today—September
10, 2021—is World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD), guys.
Every year on
this day since the year 2003, the world observes WSPD. It is an initiative of
the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), in collaboration with
the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH).
The purpose of
World Suicide Prevention Day is to raise awareness about suicide, to educate
people on how to prevent suicide with the reduction of the global number of
suicides and suicide attempts as the end goal. But it’s not just today, the
entire month is dedicated to the cause and September is actually called Suicide
Prevention Awareness Month.
According to
IASP, this year’s theme is ‘Creating Hope Through Action.’ They explained that
the theme is a:
<blockquote>reminder
that there is an alternative to suicide and aims to inspire confidence and
light in all of us; that our actions, no matter how big or small, may provide
hope to those who are struggling. Preventing suicide is often possible and you
are a key player in its prevention. Through action, you can make a difference
to someone in their darkest moments – as a member of society, as a child, as a
parent, as a friend, as a colleague or as a neighbour. We can all play a role
in supporting those experiencing a suicidal crisis or those bereaved by
suicide.</blockquote><br>
Lil Nas X
Named Suicide Prevention Advocate of the Year
Meanwhile, The
Trevor Project has named Grammy Award-winning artist Lil Nas X as their very
first Suicide Prevention Advocate of the Year Awardee. The Trevor Project by
the way, is an American nonprofit organization that has been providing crisis
intervention and suicide prevention services for lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people.
According
to The Trevor Project, Lil Nas X “has demonstrated an ongoing
commitment to supporting The Trevor Project’s mission to end suicide among
LGBTQ young people with his openness about struggling with his sexuality and
suicidal ideation, his continued advocacy around mental health issues, and his
unapologetic celebration of his queer identity.”
Amit Paley,
CEO and Executive Director at The Trevor Project, said in a statement:
The Trevor
Project is thrilled to honor Lil Nas X with the Suicide Prevention Advocate of
the Year Award. His vulnerability in his journey to self-acceptance and
expression has created space for candid conversations around mental health and
sexual identity, signaling to LGBTQ youth that they are not alone. The Trevor
Project’s research shows that over 80% of LGBTQ youth say that LGBTQ
celebrities positively influence how they feel about being LGBTQ, further
affirming the cultural impact of Lil Nas X being proud of who he is and an
ideal recipient of this inaugural award.
On the other hand, Lil Nas X said when he accepted the award:
Thank you so
much to The Trevor Project for this award and for all they do for the LGBTQ
community. Discrimination around sexuality and gender identity is still very
real, and our community deserves to feel supported and totally free to be
themselves. I often get messages from fans telling me about their struggles
with depression and suicidal thoughts, and it made me realize that this was
something bigger than myself. If using my voice and expressing myself in my
music can help even one kid out there who feels alone, then it was all worth
it.
The Numbers
According to
NAMI:
·
Men accounted for 78% of suicides.
·
In the U.S., lesbian, gay and bisexual
youth are “4x more likely to attempt suicide than straight youth.”
·
In the U.S., transgender adults are “nearly
12x more likely to attempt suicide than the general population.”
·
46.8% of lesbian, gay and bisexual high
school students in the U.S. have serious thoughts of suicide.
·
For more information, read the article in
full here.
Warning Signs
Of course, it
is very important for us to be aware about the warning signs and risk factors
of suicide, that we know how to navigate mental health among many others. This
is why the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has prepared the following resources for us:
·
The Warning Signs and Risk Factors of Suicide
·
How to be Prepared for a Crisis
·
How to Navigate a Mental Health Crisis
·
You can contact the NAMI
HelpLine for more information, referrals, or support. Where to Get Help
·
If you or a loved one is having suicidal
thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK
(8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741. You
may also click here or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for
more resources.
·
The suicide action phone numbers for other
countries are:
·
US – Trans
Lifeline: 877-565-8860 Available 24/7
·
For the LGBT youth under 24, call TrevorLifeline—a
crisis intervention and suicide prevention phone service available 24/7 at
1-866-488-7386
·
TrevorChat: Phone hotline
(1-866-4-U-TREVOR), or text (available on Fridays 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET –
text the word “Trevor” to 1-202-304-1200).
·
TrevorChat is available from 3:00 pm – 9:00
pm ET daily. Click this Time zone converter.
·
Canada – Trans
Lifeline: 1-877-330-6366 Available 24/7
·
Helpline 1: 604-872-3311 (Greater
Vancouver)
·
Helpline 2: 18666613311 (Toll free-Howe
Sound/Sunshine Coast)
·
Helpline 3: 1-866-872-0113 (TTY)
·
Helpline 4: 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)
(BC-wide)
·
Website: WWW.CRISISCENTRE.BC.CA
·
Within Ottawa: 613.722.6914
·
Outside Ottawa: 1.866.996.0991
·
Association
québécoise de prévention du suicide: 1-866-APPELLE (1-866-277-3553)
·
Also, check out http://suicideprevention.ca/ for
educational materials and resources. You can also find local crisis centers
through this link: http://suicideprevention.ca/need-help/
·
Australia – For crisis or suicide prevention support for LGBTQI in Australia,
please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au/gethelp.
Click here for
other support services within Australia.
·
Singapore – Oogachaga WhatsApp
– 8592 0609 (Tue, Wed, Thu: 7pm-10pm; Sat: 2pm-5pm)
·
Oogachaga face to face counselling – make
an appointment
·
Email
counselling: CARE@oogachaga.com [daily]
·
Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) 24-hour suicide
prevention hotline – 1-767
·
Philippines – Natasha
Goulbourn Foundation +638892217; 02-8804-4673; 0918-873-4673;
0917-558-4673; email: ngfoundation@gmail.com
·
For the other countries including those in
Asia and Europe, click here.
·
For Adam4Adam users from other parts of the
world not mentioned above, you may click this, this, and this.
·
To learn more about WSPD 2021, read here.
SOURCE: ADAM4ADAM BLOG
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