National Suicide Prevention Week

September 5 - 11 is National Suicide Prevention Week.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that each year approximately one million people die from suicide, which represents a global mortality rate of 16 people per 100,000 or one death every 40 seconds. It is predicted that by 2020 the rate of death will increase to one every 20 seconds.

In the last 45 years suicide rates have increased by 60% worldwide. Suicide is now among the three leading causes of death among those aged 15-44 (male and female). Suicide attempts are up to 20 times more frequent than completed suicides.

Although suicide rates have traditionally been highest amongst elderly males, rates among young people have been increasing to such an extent that they are now the group at highest risk in a third of all countries.

To Write Love On Her Arms is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. This wednesday (September 8th) if you feel so inclined, write LOVE on your wrist/forearm as a form of recognition. Love is the movement, your compassion will spread.

*note* I'm not involved with TWLOHA directly, but this is a cause I really believe in. I actually didn't even know about this particular event until I was invited on Facebook to participate in writing LOVE on your arm this wednesday. Participate yourself and show your love if you would like, and if you are one that suffers from depression, addiction, self-injury, or thoughts of suicide know that you aren't alone and you are loved. I'll be writing LOVE on my arm this wednesday for you.

Love is the movement.

-Lauren-

Join the Facebook event here:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=127318783982005&index=1
See the To Write Love On Her Arms website and read more about the movements vision and how it began: http://www.twloha.com/vision
All the facts I've included in this blog post were taken from the TWLOHA website.