10th September 2015 World Suicide Prevention Day 

World Suicide Prevention Day was first observed in 2003 and now takes place on 10th September every year.

1 million people worldwide take their own lives every year. There are many complex reasons why people think this is their only option but it is encouraging that there are many ways that societies are working together to try and reduce this figure. For example, there’s an initiative in the UK that prevents pharmacies selling over the counter medicine in harmful quantities and this has cut overdoses by 34%.

There are prevention programmes available which break down the barriers associated with suicide. To show support for this years event, the International Association for Suicide Prevention ask you to light a candle at 8pm and display it on your windowsill.

Leading on from this, please open this link which features quotes that deal with this, sometimes difficult, subject matter. http://mentalhealthdaily.com/2014/09/24/10-powerful-suicide-prevention-quotes-sayings

“Place your hand over your heart, can you feel it? That is called purpose. You’re alive for a reason so don’t ever give up.” – Unknown

When feeling suicidal, many people believe they have no reason to continue living. The fact that you are alive and have a beating heart is reason enough to keep living. Many depressed people search for a specific “purpose” in life when in reality, you don’t need a purpose or reason for being alive. If you are alive, you have the opportunity to do whatever you want in the world.  You may not have awakened to a specific life mission yet, and that’s alright – you have plenty of time to figure out what you want your purpose to be.