Every year close to 800 000 people die as a result of suicide. This is one death every 40 seconds. Beyond this, suicide has a ripple effect that impacts on societies, communities, friends and families who have lost a loved one to suicide. So, yes, suicide really is a serious public health problem.
The reasons for suicide are multi-faceted, influenced by social, cultural, biological, psychological, and environmental factors present across the life-course. For every suicide there are many more people who attempt suicide. A prior suicide attempt is an important risk factor for suicide in the general population.
While the link between suicide and mental disorders (in particular, 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.
An estimated 727 000 persons died by suicide in 2021. Suicide was the third leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds; second for females, third for males. More than half of global suicides (56%) happened before the age of 50 years, and the majority of suicides occurred in low-and-middle-income countries (73%). The reduction of suicide rates is an indicator in the UN SDGs, the WHO GPW14 and ...
The strongest risk factor for suicide is a previous suicide attempt. Suicide is an emerging and serious public health issue in India. However, it is preventable with timely, evidence-based and often low-cost interventions. The suicide mortality rate per 100 000 population in 2016 was 16.5, while the global average was 10.5 per 100 000.