WHO: Suicide happens every 40 seconds in the world

In high-income countries, men commit suicide three times more often than women, while 38 countries in the world are engaged in strategic suicide prevention.

Every year, 800 thousand people commit suicide in the world, and every 40 seconds on the planet there is one case of suicide. The countries with the highest number of suicides are Guyana, Russia, as well as Lithuania, Lesotho, Uganda, Sri Lanka, India, Japan and South Korea, World Health Organization reported.

The report also says that the number of suicides decreased by 9.8% from 2010 to 2016 probably due to the fact that 38 countries in the world are engaged in strategic prevention of suicides, but nevertheless, the statistics are still not encouraging, and WHO believes that as many countries as possible should be given such prevention.

In high-income countries, men commit suicide three times more often than women. A total of 38 countries in the world are engaged in strategic suicide prevention.

It is reported that 79% of all suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries. The relative rate is highest in high-income countries at 11.5 per 100,000 people.

Interestingly, in high-income countries, men commit suicide three times more often than women, while in low- and middle-income countries they are about the same.

Suicide is the second main cause of death for young people aged 18-29 years (in the first place of an accident). If we take adolescence - 15-19 years, then in girls suicide also comes in second place after complications of pregnancy and childbirth, and in guys in third place after traffic accidents and interpersonal violence.

Among the most popular methods of suicide are hanging, pesticide poisoning and suicide using firearms.