The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that more than 800,000 people commit suicide every year which statistically means one person dies from suicide every 40 seconds. This makes suicide an everyday health problem.

According to the organisation’s first global report on suicide prevention published in Geneva on Thursday, WHO said about 75 per cent of the everyday health problem occur in low and middle-income countries. It said pesticide poisoning, hanging and firearms are some of the most common methods of suicide globally.

To tackle the everyday health problem, WHO revealed that evidence from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the United States and a number of European countries showed that limiting access to these means can help prevent people dying by suicide.

Another key to reducing deaths by suicide, WHO said, is a commitment by national governments to the establishment and implementation of a coordinated plan of action. It stated further that currently, only 28 countries are known to have national suicide prevention strategies even though the disease has been identified as a major everyday health problem.

WHO, in the report, explained that suicide is a global phenomenon, which occurs all over the world and can take place at almost any age. WHO said globally, suicide rates are highest in people aged 70 years and over, although in some countries, the highest rates are found among the young.

It disclosed that suicide is the second leading cause of death in 15-29 year-olds globally.

“This report is a call for action to address a large public health problem which has been shrouded in taboo for far too long”, said Dr. Chan.

The report stated that generally, more men die by suicide than women. In richer countries, three times as many men die by suicide than women, while men aged 50 years and over are particularly vulnerable.

In low and middle-income countries, young adults and elderly women have higher rates of suicide than their counterparts in high-income countries. Women over 70 years old are more than twice likely to die by suicide than women aged 15-29 years, the report said.

The report stressed that suicides are preventable; adding that reducing access to means of suicide is one way to reduce deaths.

Other effective measures, it added, include responsible reporting of suicide in the media, such as avoiding language that sensationalises suicide and avoiding explicit description of methods used, and early identification and management of mental and substance use disorders in communities and by health workers in particular.

“Follow-up care by health workers through regular contact, including by phone or home visits, for people who have attempted suicide, together with provision of community support, are essential, because people who have already attempted suicide are at the greatest risk of trying again.

“No matter where a country currently stands in suicide prevention”, said Dr Alexandra Fleischmann, Scientist in the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse at WHO, “effective measures can be taken, even just starting at local level and on a small-scale”.

WHO recommends that countries involve a range of government departments in developing a comprehensive co-ordinated response.

It said high-level commitment is needed not just within the health sector, but also within education, employment, social welfare and judicial departments.

The report’s launch comes just a week before World Suicide Prevention Day, observed on September 10 every year. The Day provides an opportunity for joint action to raise awareness about suicide and suicide prevention around the world.

Source: http://healthnewsng.com/one-person-commits-suicide-every-40-seconds/

suicides is common in Nigeria but we don't talk about it. In 2009, I lost a very close friend of mine to suicide. It was the first time I lost someone close and I couldn't believe because the last time I saw him he looked normal and didn't look sad or depressed. It really hurt me when he commited suicide. RIP to him.

.....And four babies are born every second.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p010jxky