IASP Offers World Suicide Prevention Day Banners in Over 40 Languages

OSLO, NORWAY, August 19, 2011

The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) co-sponsor World Suicide Prevention Day every year on September 10th.

The IASP has prepared World Suicide Prevention Day banners in over 40 languages so that bloggers and writers can help increase suicide prevention awareness locally and worldwide by writing about suicide and suicide prevention in their native languages. Individuals and companies can use the banners on their Web sites to promote World Suicide Prevention Day. Teachers can use these materials to increase awareness that suicide can be prevented. In addition, we offer these banners freely to organizations and groups that are holding events on the day.

World Suicide Prevention Day Banners
http://www.iasp.info/wspd/2011_wspd_banner.php

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about one million people die by suicide every year; this represents a "global" mortality rate of 16 per 100,000, or one death every 40 seconds, or about 3,000 deaths by suicide daily. Since most societies are multicultural we need cultural sensitivity in all suicide prevention efforts.

IASP President, Dr. Lanny Berman, states, "On World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10, 2011, the theme "Preventing Suicide in Multicultural Societies" offers us a broad perspective for suicide prevention. The majority of suicides can be prevented. Developing and implementing national strategies as well as specific local interventions can lower rates of suicide. However, since most societies are multicultural, we need cultural sensitivity in all suicide prevention efforts".

Established in Vienna, in 1960, by the late Professor Erwin Ringel, IASP is the key Non-Government Organization in official relations with the World Health Organization in addressing suicide. IASP has brought global attention to the unacceptable loss of approximately 1 million people each year worldwide who die by suicide.

IASP is a unique multidisciplinary organization with its membership coming from 50 countries, primarily from the mental health professions, but with additional members from such disciplines as sociology, social work, anthropology, medicine, public health, education, corrections, probation, coroners/medical examiners, pathology and philosophy.

IASP - World Suicide Prevention Day
http://www.iasp.info/wspd/

For further information, contact:
Mrs. Vanda Scott OBE
Development Consultant
Phone: +33 562 29 11 42
office@iasp.info

Kenneth Hemmerick
Webmaster
Phone: 514-482-3399
webmaster@iasp.info

the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) was founded in Vienna (1960) as a fellowship of researchers, clinicians, practitioners, volunteers and national and local organizations. IASP, in official relations with the WHO, believes that suicide prevention should be given greater priority at global, national, and local levels incorporating research that has shown suicide is preventable. IASP co-sponsors World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th every year with the WHO.