SOS Help to mark World Suicide Prevention Day at Paris event
Saturday 10 September is World Suicide Prevention Day. The World Health Organisation
estimates that 703,000 people die by suicide worldwide each year. The global suicide rate is
twice as high among men than women. The WHO says: “Suicides and suicide attempts have
a ripple effect that impacts on families, friends, colleagues, communities and societies.
Suicides are preventable. Much can be done to prevent suicide at individual, community and
national levels.” The aim of World Suicide Prevention Day is to raise awareness about
suicide and the role we can play to prevent it.
Prevention of suicide is an objective of SOS Help, and to mark this year’s day, we will be
participating in an event organised by the Union Nationale Prévention Suicide. We will have
a stand at their village associatif at the Gare de Lyon, Paris, on Friday 9 September between
11 am and 5 pm. We will be talking to the public about our work and about preventing
suicide. We will be the only English-language charity at the event.
Christine Payne, Chair of SOS Help, said: “Many callers to SOS Help speak about anxiety,
poor mental health, self-harm and suicidal thoughts. Some have attempted to take their life
previously. Talking to us gives the caller an outlet to express those feelings and thoughts,
and can be part of their survival plan in a crisis. Many express the sheer pain they are
undergoing and the desire for it to cease. Our availability to listen helps lighten their burden,
and the call in itself is a step towards survival.”
If you’re interested in finding out more about this issue or about SOS Help’s work, come and
see us!
Place: Gare de Lyon, Paris
Date: Friday 9 September
Time: 11 am – 5 pm
