The World Health Organisation(WHO) identifies suicide is a major public health challenge globally. It notes that each suicide has far-reaching social, emotional, and economic consequences, and deeply affects individuals and communities worldwide.
In Hong Kong, youth suicide is of particular concern with over 400 young people under the age of 24 and some as young as 10 taking their own lives in 2018-2023.
The WHO works in conjunction with the International Association for Suicide Prevention to promote suicide prevention. Their triennial theme for World Suicide Prevention Day for 2024-2026 is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide” with the call to action “Start the Conversation”. They say the theme aims to raise awareness about the importance of reducing stigma and encouraging open conversations to prevent suicides. Changing the narrative on suicide is about transforming how we perceive this complex issue and shifting from a culture of silence and stigma to one of openness, understanding, and support
The call to action encourages everyone to start the conversation on suicide and suicide prevention. Every conversation, no matter how small, contributes to a supportive and understanding society. By initiating these vital conversations, we can break down barriers, raise awareness, and create better cultures of support.
They say this theme also emphasises the need to prioritise suicide prevention and mental health in policy making, calling for government action. Changing the narrative requires advocating for policies that prioritise mental health, increase access to care, and provide support for those in need.
The Weez Project fully supports these aims and calls on the Hong Kong government to do more to bring awareness of suicide and its prevention into the open and to take forward suicide prevention policies.
Everyone, individuals, schools and community groups can all play a part in changing the narrative on suicide and taking action by starting the conversation. There are resources on the Weez Project website to help with this.