World Suicide Prevention Day is on 10 September and is being organised by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP).

It is a day aimed at raising awareness around the globe, and a day aimed at suicide prevention. According to World Health Organisation (WHO) every 40 seconds someone loses their life to suicide and up to 25 times as many attempt suicide.

This year, the WHO is launching a “40 seconds of action” campaign to raise awareness of the scale of suicide around the world and the role that each of us can play to prevent it. World Suicide Prevention Day is a global event to encourage others to spread more awareness of suicide prevention. Suicide is the ultimate tragedy in mental health and is the 15th leading cause of death globally, which equals to 1.4 per cent of deaths.

Research and data collection has shown us that mental illness and suicide has increased throughout the years and is a reality one should not turn a blind eye to. Today, psychiatrist Mark Xuereb, one of the main contributors to the Crisis Resolution Centre, is launching a new foundation and helpline specialising in the prevention of suicide. Xuereb told the Malta Independent that suicide rates have increased, and it is time to take a step further in prevention.