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World Suicide Prevention Day 2024

World Suicide Prevention Day is observed on September 10 each year to promote worldwide action to prevent suicides. Various events and activities are held during this occasion to raise awareness that suicide is a major preventable cause of premature death.

World Suicide Prevention Day promotes issues such as suicide prevention. This photo is used for illustrative purposes only. It does not imply the attitudes, behavior or actions of the models used for this photo.

©iStockphoto.com/Valentin Casarsa

What Do People Do?

World Suicide Prevention Day gives organizations, government agencies and individuals a chance to promote awareness about suicide, mental illnesses associated with suicide, as well as suicide prevention. Organizations such as the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and World Health Organization (WHO) play a key role in promoting this event.

Events and activities for World Suicide Prevention Day include:

  • The launch of new government initiatives to prevent suicide.
  • Conferences, open days, educational seminars or public lectures.
  • Media programs promoting suicide awareness and prevention.
  • Memorial services or candlelight ceremonies to remember those who died from suicide.
  • Organizing cultural or spiritual events, fairs or exhibitions.
  • Launches of publications about suicide awareness and prevention.
  • Training courses about suicide and depression awareness.

Many of these initiatives are celebrated in various countries worldwide. Some of these events and activities are held at a local level, while others are nation-wide. Many communities around the world reaffirm their commitment to suicide prevention on World Suicide Prevention Day.

Public Life

World Suicide Prevention Day is not a public holiday.

Background

Nearly 3000 people on average die by suicide daily, according to WHO. For every person who completes a suicide, 20 or more may attempt to end their lives. About one million people die by suicide each year. Suicide is a major preventable cause of premature death which is influenced by psychosocial, cultural and environmental risk factors that can be prevented through worldwide responses that address these main risk factors. There is strong evidence indicating that adequate prevention can reduce suicide rates.

World Suicide Prevention Day, which first started in 2003, is annually held on September 10 each year as an IASP initiative. WHO co-sponsors this event. World Suicide Prevention Day aims to:

  • Raise awareness that suicide is preventable.
  • Improve education about suicide.
  • Spread information about suicide awareness.
  • Decrease stigmatization regarding suicide.

WHO and IASP work with governments and other partners to ensure that suicide is no longer stigmatized, criminalized or penalized. WHO's role is to build political action and leadership to develop national responses to prevent suicide, strengthen national planning capacity to establish the core building blocks of such a national response, and build the national capacities to implement these responses.

World Suicide Prevention Day Observances

YearWeekdayDateNameHoliday Type
2019TueSep 10World Suicide Prevention DayWorldwide observance
2020ThuSep 10World Suicide Prevention DayWorldwide observance
2021FriSep 10World Suicide Prevention DayWorldwide observance
2022SatSep 10World Suicide Prevention DayWorldwide observance
2023SunSep 10World Suicide Prevention DayWorldwide observance
2024TueSep 10World Suicide Prevention DayWorldwide observance
2025WedSep 10World Suicide Prevention DayWorldwide observance
2026ThuSep 10World Suicide Prevention DayWorldwide observance
2027FriSep 10World Suicide Prevention DayWorldwide observance
2028SunSep 10World Suicide Prevention DayWorldwide observance
2029MonSep 10World Suicide Prevention DayWorldwide observance

While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.