who: Nearly 800,000 people die from suicide yearly

Close to 800,000 people die from suicide every year, making it the second leading cause of death among 15-29 years old, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said.

In a statement released last week, WHO noted that 78 percent of global suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries. Ingestion of pesticides, hanging and use of firearms are among the most common methods of suicides around the world.

“Every year, close to 800,000 people take their own lives and there are many more who attempt suicide. Every suicide is a tragedy that affects families, communities and entire countries and has long-lasting effects on the people left behind,” WHO said.

The statement was issued in time for the commemoration of the World Suicide Prevention Day on Sept. 10.

As many people try to kill themselves annually, the WHO underscored that a “prior suicide attempt is the single most important risk factor for suicide in the general population.”

“Suicide is a serious public health problem. However, suicides are preventable with timely, evidence-based and often low-cost interventions. For national responses to be effective, a comprehensive multisectoral suicide prevention strategy is needed,” the agency said.

WHO maintained that while the link between suicide and mental disorders, particularly depression and alcohol use disorders, is “well-established in high-income countries, many suicides happen impulsively in moments of crisis with a breakdown in the ability to deal with life stresses, such as financial problems, relationship break-up or chronic pain and illness.”

Aside from this, experiencing conflict, disaster, violence, abuse, or loss and a sense of isolation are also strongly associated with suicidal behavior.

Suicide rates are also high among vulnerable groups that experience discrimination, such as refugees and migrants; indigenous peoples; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex (LGBTI) persons and prisoners.

Some 30 percent of global suicides are due to pesticide selfpoisoning, most of which occur in rural agricultural areas in lowand middle-income countries.

For the agency, knowing the most commonly used suicide methods is an important aspect of prevention. –