World Suicide Prevention Day

World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10th, is "an opportunity for all sectors of the community - the public, charitable organizations, communities, researchers, clinicians, practitioners, politicians and policy makers, volunteers, those bereaved by suicide, other interested groups and individuals - to join with the International Association for Suicide Prevention and the WHO to focus public attention on the unacceptable burden and costs of suicidal behaviors with diverse activities to promote understanding about suicide and highlight effective prevention activities."

Most people have been impacted by suicide directly or indirectly in some way. As soap opera fans, we've seen beloved actors take their own lives, and characters as well.

Among the family of soap actors lost to suicide are Brenda Benet, Benjamin Hendrickson, Peter Burnell, Lisa Howard, Tara Preston, Nick Santino and Walter Slezak.

Patty Weaver and other actors have talked openly about their suicide attempts.

We've also seen heartbreaking stories like GUIDING LIGHT's Michelle Ray Smith, who lost her father to suicide.  Smith revealed in an interview on THE EARLY SHOW in 2003 her dad had an unsuccessful suicide attempt before but the family didn't know how to handle it.   That was her motivation for speaking out publicly for the first time.

The fictional world of daytime drama has seen a number of suicide storylines as well with characters such as GUIDING LIGHT's Reva Shayne, ANOTHER WORLD's Iris Carrington, THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL's Sheila Carter, PASSIONS' Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald and THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS' Traci Abbott all having attempted suicide, and survived. Even ALL MY CHILDREN's Erica Kane contemplated suicide when her marriage to Tom fell apart. DARK SHADOWS' Josette du Pres jumped to her death on Widow's Hill. GUIDING LIGHT's Julie Bauer died in 1965 of what was suspected to be self-inflicted injuries. Her husband, Mike, was so devastated he moved to Oakdale (off screen) and then to ANOTHER WORLD's Bay City. Preacher on THE EDGE OF NIGHT memorably worked for a Suicide Hotline.  There have been many other stories over the years.

According to the IASP, initiatives which actively educate and involve people are likely to be most effective in helping people learn new information about suicide and suicide prevention. Below are some examples of activities IASP recommends which can support World Suicide Prevention Day include:

* Lighting a candle, near a window, at 8 PM in support of: World Suicide Prevention Day, suicide prevention awareness, survivors of suicide and for the memory of loved lost ones.
* Becoming a Facebook Fan of the IASP and The Jed Foundation (www.facebook.com/IASPinfo, www.facebook.com/jedfoundation)
* Show your participation by clicking "attending" on the Official 2012 World Suicide Prevention Day Facebook Event page
* Following the IASP and The Jed Foundation on Twitter (www.twitter.com/IASPinfo, www.twitter.com/jedfoundation), tweeting #WSPD or #suicide or #suicideprevention
* Creating a video about suicide prevention (www.youtube.com/IASPinfo)

Has a soap opera suicide storyline rally touched your heart or made an impact on your life?  Share your thoughts in our Comments section below.