World Suicide Prevention Day 2025: Social Media Anxiety Blamed As Suicide Cases Among Gen Zs Rise; How To Prevent

World Suicide Prevention Day 2025: World Suicide Prevention Day is observed annually on September 10 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), with the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a co-host. The day has been a reminder of the need to deal with mental-health issues worldwide since 2003. For the period 2024–2026, the theme has been established as "Changing the Narrative on Suicide", calling for governments, communities, and individuals to break stigma, raise awareness, and enhance access to mental-health care.

Rising Suicide Rates In India

According to WHO, over 727,000 individuals die by suicide every year in the world, and for each death, approximately 20 attempt suicide. Indicative statistics from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) raise a cause for concern. India's suicide rate grew from 9.9 per lakh population between 2017 and 2022 to 12.4 per lakh during this period. Regional differences further accentuate the seriousness of the situation.

Suicide rates are highly uneven across states, urban hotspots:

• Bihar: Was as low as 0.6 suicides per 100,000 individuals
• Sikkim: Led the way at an astonishing 43.1 suicides per 100,000 in 2022
• Vijayawada: Contributed 42.6 deaths per 100,000.
• Kollam: Had 42.5 deaths per 100,000.

In recent years, cases involving youth and social media pressures have triggered national debate. The death of influencer and cosmetics brand founder Misha Agrawal in 2023, who reportedly died by suicide days before her 25th birthday after losing Instagram followers, brought attention to the fragile emotional state of young users online. Similarly, a 16-year-old girl from Noida died by suicide after feeling distressed about her social media engagement.

ALSO READ: Top 10 Countries With Highest Suicide Rates In The World: Know Where India Ranks | World Suicide Prevention Day 2025

WHO's Advice On Maintaining Mental Well-Being

The WHO has prescribed six easy steps that can be followed in order to protect one's mental health.

1. Speak to a trusted person – discuss feelings with family or friends.
2. Look after physical health – work out every day, have healthy meals, and get enough sleep.
3. Do enjoyable activities – pets, hobbies, books, or entertainment can work.
4. Stay away from harmful substances – tobacco, alcohol, and drugs deteriorate mental health.
5. Cultivate mindfulness – concentrate on breaths and environment to relax stress.
6. Get professional assistance – call helplines, counsellors, or physicians as required.

ALSO READ: 50+ Quotes To Remind You That You're Not Alone | World Suicide Prevention Day 2025

With India celebrating World Suicide Prevention Day 2025, the task at hand is not just in increasing infrastructure but also in shattering silence and stigma on mental illness. The brand narrative on suicide, as indicated by the theme globally, needs to change from shame to support, from silence to talk, and from neglect to action.