1
World Suicide Prevention Day Official Website https://www.iasp.info/wspd2017/ Take a minute, change a life. World Suicide Prevention Day 2017 TOOLKIT This PDF contains links to World Suicide Prevention Day resources and related Web sites. Toolkit URL: https://goo.gl/r1BSUk E very year, more than 800,000 people die by suicide and up to 25 times as many make a suicide attempt. Behind these statistics are the individual stories of those who have, for many different reasons, questioned the value of their own lives. E ach one of these individuals is part of a community. Some may be well linked in to this community, and have a network of family, friends and work colleagues or school mates. Others may be less well connected, and some may be quite isolated. Regardless of the circumstances, communities have an important role to play in supporting those who are vulnerable. T his sentiment is reflected in the theme of the 2017 World Suicide Prevention Day: ‘Take a minute, change a life.’ As members of communities, it is our responsibility to look out for those who may be struggling, check in with them, and encourage them to tell their story in their own way and at their own pace. Offering a gentle word of support and listening in a non-judgemental way can make all the difference. Taking a minute can change a life P eople who have lived through a suicide attempt have much to teach us about how the words and actions of others are important. They often talk movingly about reaching the point where they could see no alternative but to take their own life, and about the days, hours and minutes leading up to this. They often describe realising that they did not want to die but instead wanted someone to intervene and stop them. Many say that they actively sought someone who would sense their despair and ask them whether they were okay. S ometimes they say that they made a pact with themselves that if someone did ask if they were okay, they would tell them everything and allow them to intervene. Sadly, they often reflect that no one asked. T he individuals telling these stories are inspirational. Many of them recount reaching the point where they did try to take their own lives, and tell about coming through it. Many of them are now working as advocates for suicide prevention. Almost universally, they say that if someone had taken a minute, the trajectory that they were on could have been interrupted. L ife is precious and sometimes precarious. Taking a minute to reach out to someone – a complete stranger or close family member or friend – can change the course of their life. No one has to have all the answers P eople are often reluctant to intervene, even if they are quite concerned about someone. There are many reasons for this, not least that they fear they will not know what to say. It is important to remember, however, that there is no hard and fast formula. Individuals who have come through an episode of severe suicidal thinking often say that they were not looking for specific advice, but that compassion and empathy from others helped to turn things around for them and point them towards recovery. A nother factor that deters people from starting the conversation is that they worry that they may make the situation worse. Again, this hesitation is understandable; broaching the topic of suicide is difficult and there is a myth that talking about suicide with someone can put the idea into their head or trigger the act. WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY, September 10th,is an opportunity for all sectors of the community - the public, charitable organizations, communities, researchers, clinicians, practitioners, politicians and policy makers, volunteers, those bereaved by suicide, other interested groups and individuals - to join with the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) to focus public attention on the needs of people at risk of suicide, suicide attempt survivors and people bereaved by suicide, with diverse activities to promote understanding about suicide and highlight effective prevention activities. Those activities may call attention to the global impact of suicide, and discuss local, regional and national strategies for suicide prevention, highlighting cultural initiatives and emphasizing how specific prevention initiatives are shaped to address local cultural conditions. Initiatives which actively educate and involve people are likely to be most effective in helping people learn new information about suicide and suicide prevention. Examples of activities which can support World Suicide Prevention Day include: • Launching new initiatives, policies and strategies on World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10th. • Exploring and using WSPD suicide prevention resources available in IASP’s Web Resource Directory https:// goo.gl/Ze9I57 • Using the WSPD Press Preparation Package that offers media guides in the planning of an event or activity. https://goo.gl/NGZBOh • Downloading the World Suicide Prevention Day Toolkit that contains links to World Suicide Prevention Day resources and related Web pages https://goo.gl/r1BSUk • Holding conferences, open days, educational seminars or public lectures and panels • Writing articles for national, regional and community newspapers, blogs and magazines • Holding press conferences • Placing information on your website and using the IASP World Suicide Prevention Day Web banner, promoting suicide prevention in one’s native tongue. https://goo.gl/A7CHZH • Securing interviews and speaking spots on radio and television • Organizing memorial services, events, candlelight ceremonies or walks to remember those who have died by suicide • Asking national politicians with responsibility for health, public health, mental health or suicide prevention to make relevant announcements, release policies or make supportive statements or press releases on WSPD • Holding depression awareness events in public places and offering screening for depression • Organizing cultural or spiritual events, fairs or exhibitions • Organizing walks to political or public places to highlight suicide prevention • Holding book launches, or launches for new booklets, guides or pamphlets • Distributing leaflets, posters and other written information • Organizing concerts, BBQs, breakfasts, luncheons, contests, fairs in public places • Writing editorials for scientific, medical, education, nursing, law and other relevant journals • Disseminating research findings • Producing press releases for new research papers • Holding training courses in suicide and depression awareness • Joining us on the official World Suicide Prevention Day Facebook Event Page https://goo.gl/Xt6Jfk • Supporting suicide prevention 365 days a year by becoming a Facebook Fan of the IASP https://goo.gl/S7zalS • Following the IASP on Twitter (www.twitter.com/IASPinfo), tweeting #WSPD or #suicide or #suicideprevention • Creating a video about suicide prevention to be posted on IASP’s WSPD 2017 YouTube Channel at: https://goo.gl/S4MyHv • Lighting a candle a candle, near a window at 8 PM in support of: World Suicide Prevention Day, suicide prevention and awareness, survivors of suicide and for the memory of loved lost ones. Find “Light a Candle Near a Window at 8 PM” postcards in various languages at: https://goo.gl/JTS9mL • Participating in the World Suicide Prevention Day - Cycle Around the Globehttps://goo.gl/DFZCE3 www.iasp.info/wspd2017 Download the official brochure that discusses the theme of this year’s World Suicide Prevention Day. https://goo.gl/Pz6DV1 Learn about the WSPD Ribbon and find various sizes to download. https://goo.gl/AvgMXp Read about suggested activities that can be carried out for World Suicide Prevention Day. https://goo.gl/ge3Nnx Cycle Around the Globe WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY Cycle Around the Globe 2017 Frequently Asked Questions D o I h a v e t o c y c l e w i t h a g r o u p o r i n a n o r g a n i s e d e v e n t ? Not at all. We welcome group and individual cyclists. You can cycle at home, in the gym, as part of an organised event or whilst on holiday. Wherever suits you! D o I h a v e t o c y c l e b e t w e e n 2 n d - 1 7 t h S e p t e m b e r ? No you don’t have to. We have set these dates, as they encompass World Suicide Prevention Day. However, you can contribute to the event and submit distances throughout September 2017. And you will still be eligible for a prize! W h a t d i s t a n c e d o I h a v e t o c y c l e ? Whatever distance you wish. We greatly appreciate all efforts you make to engage with the Cycle Around the Globe event. Every kilometer/mile counts towards the final count! H o w d o I r e g i s t e r ? You can register anytime via our website. Here you can tell us how far you plan to cycle in advance. You can also find information on fundraising, download a participant bib to attach to your t-shirt and obtain a certificate of completion. H o w d o I o r g a n i s e a g r o u p c y c l e ? Anyone can organise a group Cycle Around the Globe event. Just follow the steps of registration on our website and print your materials (bibs, certificates etc.). Then you and your group will be on your way! C a n I c y c l e i n t h e g y m ? Yes of course. We even encourage this! A great idea would be to link in with a spinning class; you could even encourage the whole group to join in! H o w d o I s u b m i t m y d i s t a n c e a f t e r t h e e v e n t ? Having completed the cycle we would be delighted to hear how you did! You can submit your distance cycled via the registration section of our website at http://iasp.info/wspd2017/cycle-around-globe/. D o I n e e d s p o n s o r s h i p t o c y c l e ? No, cycle participants are not obliged to collect sponsorship. This event is about raising awareness and community spirit. However, there is an option to use the event to raise funds either for IASP or for your local (or national) suicide preven- tion charity. On our website, you can donate directly through PayPal, access a fundraising platform to help you gain sponsorship or download our Cycle Around the Globe sponsorship form. Alternatively, if you or your company are in- terested in providing corporate sponsorship to the cycle, please get in touch by emailing us at: [email protected]. W h e r e c a n I s u b m i t m y c y c l e p h o t o g r a p h s ? As always we would encourage our participants to share their experiences of the Cycle Around the Globe event. You can share you photographs with us via our World Suicide Prevention Day Cycle Around the Globe 2017 Facebook page or email the photos to us to share at [email protected]. World Suicide Prevention Day September 10 th 2017 Take a minute, change a life Facts and Figures World Suicide Prevention Day Facts & Figures PDF Version Press Preparation Package Find research and resources relating to this year’s WSPD theme: https:// goo.gl/Ze9I57 Cycle Around the Globe QR Code Download the Cycle FAQ http://ow.ly/Wdfk30dLgPK https://goo.gl/DFZCE3 Click the above link to find the following resources and more: Cycle Info Cycle FAQ sheet Fundraising Programme Info Fundraising Platforms User Guides Sponsorship Prospectus Sponsorship Form Cycle Materials Translated Cycle Documents Light a Candle Near a Window at 8 PM on World Suicide Prevention Day Please use your phone to scan the above Cycle QR code and share this World Suicide Prevention Day Activity. On September 10th World Suicide Prevention Day Light a candle near a window at 8 PM to show your support for suicide prevention to remember a lost loved one and for the survivors of suicide. The International Association for Suicide Prevention invites you to light a candle at 8 PM World Suicide Prevention Day www.iasp.info/wspd https://goo.gl/JTS9mL Download the Light a Candle Near a Window at 8 PM e-card or postcard now available in over 50 languages https://goo.gl/JTS9mL Use the online form to submit WSPD activities for listing on the website https://goo.gl/cf9mZe Join us on the Official World Suicide Prevention Day Facebook Event Page https://goo.gl/Xt6Jfk Read about World Suicide Prevention Day activities across the globe: https://goo.gl/cYL1Bm Follow WSPD activities on Twitter or tweet using hashtags #wspd #suicide #suicideprevention www.twitter.com/IASPinfo You are invited to use this square candle image as your Facebook or Twitter profile picture on WSPD http://goo.gl/GL0cs Please use your phone to scan the Light a Candle Near a Window at 8 PM QR code below and share this World Suicide Prevention Day activity. See WSPD videos on YouTube International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) https://www.iasp.info IASP Facebook https://facebook.com/IASPinfo https://goo.gl/S4MyHv September 10th, 2017 World Suicide Prevenon Day Take a minute, change a life L i g h t a c a n d l e Light a candle near a window at 8pm to show your support for suicide prevenon G e t i n v o l v e d i n a n e v e n t Take part in or organise a local or naonal event to highlight suicide prevenon C y c l e a r o u n d t h e g l o b e Join us in cycling to show that we are connected in our aim to prevent suicide Find out more at iasp.info/wspd2017/ J o i n u s o n s o c i a l m e d i a Connect with us on Facebook and Twier to share your support of WSPD Download the WSPD Infographic https://goo.gl/hAVBPH Download WSPD PDF Facts and Figures https://goo.gl/mWGKve Download WSPD Facts and Figure PowerPoint https://goo.gl/Apgqkb Use this P.R. tool to help your organization prepare press releases for WSPD and to learn about media interviews. https://goo.gl/qbNX9H Find WSPD banners in various languages or large and small animated GIFs versions. https://goo.gl/A7CHZH
