Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 15-29, and is more common among men than women. Photograph: Alamy[/caption]Some of worst-affected countries have suicide rates 40 times higher than those where fewest people kill themselves
One person in the world dies by suicide every 40 seconds, according to thefirst ever comprehensive report on the issue from the World Health Organisation, which talks of a massive toll of tragic and preventable deaths.
Suicide ratesvary enormously from one country to another around the world influenced by the cultural, social, religious and economic environments in which people live and sometimes want to stop living. Some of the worst affected countries have more than 40 times more suicides than the least affected areas. But the pressures that cause extreme emotional distress are similar everywhere and there are measures all governments can take to make suicide less likely, says the WHO.
Overall, the Geneva-based UN body estimates that there are at least 800,000 suicides a year. But many countries do not collect good data, there is huge stigma and in a handful of nations suicide is still illegal, so it is highly likely the numbers are an underestimate. Criminalising suicide does not prevent it India, where it is illegal, has one of the higher suicide rates in the world at almost 21 deaths per 100,000 people against a global average of 11.
Read more here
The Iran Project is not responsible for the content of quoted articles.
