A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE IN OUR HANDS - To Parent Directory

Public healthDidyou know…More people commit suicideevery year than die on theroads. 58,000 people killthemselves every year40,000 people a year arekilled on the roadsThe stress caused by theeveryday pressures of ourcompetitive lifestyles andsometimes addictionssuch as alcoholism, beingsubjected to violenceor abuse all have negativeimpacts, directly orindirectly, on our health.Depression and othermental illnesses are alsopublic health issues ofgrowing importance. Areport by the EuropeanReview of Suicide andViolence Epidemiology, (EUROSAVE), suggests that those mostlikely to commit suicide are single men, substance abusers and theunemployed, with rates in northern EU countries being higher thanthose in most Mediterranean countries.Threats caused by disease: Diseases like HIV/AIDS and otherswhich could also spread in people around the world, like bird flu,need monitoring and rapid response systems. Tuberculosis,measles and influenza are contagious and don’t respectborders, combined they account for around one third ofthe deaths occurring globally. They can spread rapidly ifaction is not taken to keep them in check. It is vital todevelop a coordinated response to health threats andemergencies in Europe.Other threats: Food scares require clear informationcampaigns and direct control by authorities. Sources offatal accidents, such as drink driving, require legal deterrents.A coordinated reaction to large scale emergencies isalso a priority.© Corbis047