World Suicide Prevention Day is marked on September 10 every year. It aims to raise awareness about suicide and how to prevent it. The impacts of suicide are felt beyond the individual, with every death profoundly affecting families and communities. The World Health Organization (2025) estimates that 720,000 people die by suicide every year, making it a significant issue of public concern. The International Association of Suicide Prevention (IASP) theme this year is ‘Changing the Narrative on Suicide’. This theme focuses on the need to improve global attitudes and responses toward suicide and its prevention by fostering public conversation and employing empathy to decrease stigma and improve mental health at all societal levels [IASP], 2025).
Suicide Statistics: Global and Pakistan
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death globally, and most concerning, with the most casualties, is the age group of 15-29 years. From 2020 to 2024, the death toll by suicide has alarmingly widened; wherein, 72 percent of the suicide deaths occurred in economically poorer countries (WHO 2025). Despite the alarming situation, statistics are lacking in depicting the truth, especially concerning the higher rates of suicide for women and young adults in Pakistan, due to the discrimination and stigma against mental health problems (WHO 2025). The underlying mental health problems are exacerbated by the heard of social and economic issues, and to the spokes of revolting relief, there is zero attention on the issues (The News Pakistan, 2025).
- Global 2021 age-standardized suicide rate ≈ 8.9 per 100,000 (WHO Global Health Estimates / WHO report).
- Pakistan 2020 = 5.43 and 2021 = 5.64 per 100,000 (reported series from Macrotrends / World Bank series).
Causes and Contributing Factors
Suicide is a complex phenomenon influenced by multiple factors:
- The likelihood of committing suicide increases for people who suffer from mental disorders like depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, or abuse of addictive substances (WHO, 2025).
- The marginalization of people living with social and economic stressors like poverty, lack of employment, broken relationships, and social isolation increases vulnerability.
- The IASP (2025) report submission on suicide and mental illness suffers from sparser open acknowledgement and assistance intertwined with myths and cultural stigma as well as ‘deaths of despair.’
- The easier access clinicians have to these patient prescribed medications, along with pesticide availability, increase suicide risk to those who might easily change their mind.
- Most of all, prolonged exposure to trauma and abuse in childhood predict the risk of exposure to the greatest extent.
The Stigma Barrier
The mental illness and suicide stigma barriers to suicide prevention are pronounced. A large number of people consider themselves to be schemed and fear being ostracized which in turn results in healthy quiescence and remains untreated (The News Pakistan, 2025). Globally, suicide is often perceived and evaluated through a qualitative, and even a severely religious, approach which, indeed, is burdensome to public health. It is, therefore, imperative to resolve this stigma through teaching to save as many lives as possible (IASP, 2025).
Suicide Prevention and Management Strategies
Effective suicide prevention requires a multi-sectoral approach:
- Raising Sign Recognition and Understanding Awareness
- Information Planning and Relaying for Universal Health
- Psychiatric Emergency and Patient Voice Crisis Services
- Training Health Educators and Community Leaders to Collaborate Effectively with Health Practitioners
- Policy Advocacy: Suicide attempted decriminalization and Advocacy for Mental Health Justice Reform (WHO, 2025).
Role of Psychologists
Psychologists are vital in suicide prevention through:
- Focusing on evidence-based practices like cognitive behavioral therapy with the aim of reducing suicidal thoughts CBT cognitive behavioral therapy suicidal ideation
- Providing safety planning and crisis counseling
- Resolving mental health as well as psychosocial problems
- Working with families along with families and health communities.
Lifeline Rehab: Supporting Mental Health in Pakistan
In Pakistan, Lifeline Rehab is working to expand mental health services by offering specialized wards and community-based care. The organization focuses on improving mental health awareness, reducing stigma, and addressing the gaps in care for neglected groups. Its aim is to make mental health services more accessible, fair, and supportive for everyone in need.
Rana Zeeshan Ahmad
Clinical Psychologist
Lifeline Rehab Islamabad
