Suicide kills every 40 seconds

According to the first ever detailed report into suicide by the World Health Organization (WHO), one person in the world dies by suicide every 40 seconds.

After analyzing 10 years of research and data from around the world, the report shows that three quarters of the estimated 800,000 suicides per year occurred in low and middle income countries. In wealthier countries however, three times as many men committed suicide as women.

WHO's report also concluded that suicide is the second most common cause of death in people aged 15 to 29, and over 70s are most likely to take their own lives.

Suicide rates also vary around the world due to differing cultural, religious, economic and social environments. The North Korean rate is extremely high at 39.5 suicides per 100,000, whereas countries with large Catholic and Muslim populations, whose religions oppose suicide, tend to have much lower rates.

Taboo

In a bid to tackle the worldwide issue, WHO member states have committed themselves to reducing the worldwide suicide rate by 10 percent by 2020.

Some success has already been reported, however, with limited access to firearms and toxic chemicals reducing rates of suicide.

The introduction of a national strategy for reducing suicides has also proved effective, but has been developed in only a minority of countries. In many countries suicide remains a taboo subject, attached to huge stigma. In others, such as India, suicide is still illegal. Despite the criminalization of suicide, India has one of the world's highest suicide rate with almost 21 deaths per 100,000 - 10 more than the world average.

In addition to the hundreds of thousands of suicide deaths, the WHO report also estimates that for each adult who died of suicide there are likely to be more than 20 others who made one or more suicide attempts.

Education

Director-General of WHO Dr. Margaret Chan said that suicide "often fails to be prioritized as a major public health problem." Only 28 countries said they currently have a national suicide prevention strategy at the current time.

In order to prevent suicide, the reports said vulnerable groups need to be identified and awareness needs to be increased through public education. Improving societal attitudes and eliminating stigma towards people with mental disorders or suicidal behaviors was also a key strategy.

"No matter where a country currently stands in suicide prevention, effective measures can be taken, even just starting at local level and on a small scale," said Alexandra Fleischmann, a scientist at WHO's department of mental health and substance abuse.

In light of the recent death of actor and comedian Robin Williams, WHO also encouraged responsible reporting of suicide in the media to avoid sensationalizing tragic deaths.

This September 10 will also see the 11th World Suicide Prevention Day, which aims to gain recognition for suicide as a major public health problem.

ksb/dr (Reuters, dpa)