World Mental Health Day, like every year, was also observed in Bangladesh on Thursday (Oct 10) with the theme ‘Suicide Prevention’. The event takes place every year on October 10 and it aims to educate and raise awareness of mental health issues. The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) says that suicidal behavior has existed throughout human history, but due to several complex factors, it has increased gradually in all parts of the world.
Experts who study mental health problems strongly advise volunteering or seeking help at mental health clinics and services that help people suffering from mental health issues, registering for group therapy sessions and practicing proper mental health self-care for themselves, such as by exercising, eating healthy, volunteering, meditating and seeking counselling if necessary.
In Bangladesh the rate of suicides is sharply increasing. In 2017, about 11,000 people committed suicide, which means, on an average, 30 people kill themselves every day. The annual suicide rate globally stands at one million. Experts warn that the rate of suicide might increase even more.
They said people go through many hurdles and trauma in their daily lives but they do not receive the necessary social and psychological support to overcome these issues. They feel suicide is their only option out of their troubles. According to data from Police Headquarters, among the 11,095 people who committed suicide in 2017, as many as 569 of them hanged themselves, 3,467 took poison, and 59 people set themselves on fire.
Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee or Brac organized a special event on the day (Thursday) to aware people on the issue. The day was observed under a slogan – A day for 40 seconds of action. According to World Health Organisation the scenario in South Asia is predicted to be worse with about 15 lakh people to die from suicide in 2020 and twice the number would attempt to commit suicide. Studies show that South Asia has the highest rates of suicides in the world.
