Dr. Suat Günsel University of Kyrenia Hospital Clinical Psychologist Feriha Kaşifoğlu made an explanation about the 10th of October World Mental Health Day:
“In 1922 World Federation for Mental Health established 10th of October as the World Mental Health Day. In this framework, it was aimed to bring the attention of the public and politicians to the suggestions and solutions for mental health problems in our country and around the World. Every year a topic is identified. This year ‘Suicide Prevention’ has been chosen as the theme for the 10th of October World Mental Health Day.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) data, approximately one million people die each year due to suicide. This means that every 40 seconds a life ends due to suicide. These results have been the main reason for choosing ‘Suicide Prevention’ as the topic for this year’s theme.
Suicide is a phenomenon that has a biological, psychological and sociological aspect, which also has the danger of increasing within the society, which not only affects the individual but also everyone, leaving destructive effects on relatives and friends of the person.
The risk factors for suicide include having a mental illness, conflict with social environment, exposure to abuse and violence, alcohol and substance misuse, physical or medical disorders, family history of suicide, stress, financial difficulties, separation, chronic moments of crisis such as a disease and many more can be counted as the factors. As the majority of suicide cases are accompanied by mental illnesses, early diagnosis of mental illnesses is very important, as well as receiving the appropriate treatment.
Although it is possible to prevent suicide to a large extent, the lack of information about suicide and mental illnesses, and also the concern of stigmatization prevents individuals from accessing appropriate mental health services. Approaching such individuals with a judgemental behaviour and labelling them as a threat, prevents them from receiving help which limits their work and social relations and decreases their quality of life. Therefore, avoiding labels such as ‘mentally ill, drug addict, psychopath’ will reduce the anxiety of stigmatization and the obstacle of applying to health services will be removed.
Today, not only the health platform but also the employers, politicians and the media should be able to work towards the prevention of suicide and should include activities to raise awareness for suicide prevention, which is defined as a public health problem. Suicide is a preventable phenomenon. “