Suicide Awareness Day, also known as Suicide Prevention Day, is an annual worldwide event held on September 10th in which people write “love” on their skin or light a candle near their windows at night to show support to those on the verge of taking their own lives.
This dedication began in 2003 by WHO (World Health Organization), IASP (International Association for Suicide Prevention), and the World Federation for Mental Health. Since then, it has become a world phenomenon. One Facebook event alone shows that the outreach has extended to more than 19,000 people.
FVHS students of all grade levels participate because they believe that this day was created in order to prevent deaths by displaying concern for others.
Aatena Hasan (’16) agrees, “I think this day is important because many kids feel depressed and think they are lonely. On this day, we can show that many people care for them.”
“Suicide Awareness Day for me is the helping hand I am giving to all of those struggling with life in some way, shape, or form and the many friends who have succumbed,” states Jeremy Flores (’14).
To some, it is a day to be grateful for all the small things and to live your life to the fullest.
Kimberly Do (’14) says, “Suicide Awareness Day is a day that I think people should be involved in because it really does spread the idea that we are all alive and that we should live to see what our life can become.”
To still others, it is a time to share personal experiences and to make tormentors realize what a drastic effect their actions are causing.
Vi Pham (’15) shares, “A friend of mine has committed suicide in the past. I regret never being able to say to that person: ‘You matter. You are important to us. You are important to me.’ S.A.D. to me is a day, an opportunity, to address such a controversial but real topic as suicide. Educated individuals have the choice to make better decisions. A bully may not know he/she is driving someone to suicide until their eyes are opened.”
