Posted on 09/04/2014 2:18:30 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
GENEVA— The World Health Organization reports more than 800,000 people die by suicide every year. WHO, which is launching its first global report on suicide prevention, said more people die from suicide than from conflicts, wars and natural disasters combined.
The World Health Organization reported every 40 seconds a person somewhere in the world commits suicide. Despite this shockingly high statistic, WHO said only a handful of countries have policies aimed at suicide prevention.
WHO Director of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Shekhar Saxena said there also is much more that communities can do to provide support for vulnerable people. He said suicide is the final outcome for people who are feeling isolated, depressed and hopeless. He said society can do more to provide support to them at a moment of great distress.
“People who eventually commit suicide have, almost in all cases, sought help from someone. It can be a friend, it can be a family member, it can be a health care system, it can be a social care system. It could be a religious organization and very often this request or plea for help was not responded to positively. So communities, families have a responsibility to be available and to provide the kind of support which people need,” explained Saxena.
The World Health Organization calls suicide a major global health problem. It said a common misconception is that suicides are a Western and developed country phenomena. In reality, it said some 75 percent of suicides occur in low-and-middle-income-countries.
It cites the most common methods of suicide globally as pesticide poisoning, hanging, and firearms. Data from a number of European countries, the United States and other developed nations shows limiting access to these means can help prevent people dying by suicide.
* Suicide rates globally are highest in people aged 70 years and over.
* Suicide is the second leading cause of death among those between 15 and 29.
* More men commit suicide than women.
* In the more developed countries, the proportion is many more men compared to women.
* Highest rates of suicide are found in Central and Eastern Europe
* Suicide rates in Africa appear to be on the low side. But, it cautions data from that region is scant and not very reliable.
* Celebrity suicides can provoke copycat behavior.
How many people die from malaria because feel-good envirowhackos had DDT banned?
I can't figure out how the person commits suicide more than once, let alone every 40 seconds
Those stats seem awfully high; independent verification is called for.
world-wide?
This may sound mean but Ebola is making it’s way across the African continent. It amazes me that they are making such a statement about folks who want to die other than doing what it takes to save possibly millions around the globe in the coming year who actually want to live.
Suicide is a bad judgement call but organizations like the UN, WHO and countless governments and their agencies around the globe have a hand in creating the conditions that can drive an individual to suicide. This organization proves daily how very useless they are. /rant off
Gee, that’s a shame. How can I help?
Every forty seconds????
Yes, seems high to me - but maybe that’s just me.
Exactly...makes everything else, pale in comparison.
I don’t believe WHO.
At 70 you have lived most of your life.Two guys I worked with that took their own lives surprised me, I did not have a clue.
On the upside, if we find that individual, think of how quickly the statistics will go down.
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