More than 720,000 people die by suicide every year, according to WHO
Every 40 seconds, someone in the world dies by suicide.
The global toll is staggering: more than 720,000 lives are lost each year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) – more than war and homicide combined. For each death, there are an estimated 20 attempts. Families, schools, workplaces and entire communities are left grappling with the aftermath.
“Suicide is a complex issue where one has to look at a number of underlying factors, and also the response needs to be multi-sectoral,” WHO’s Dr. Alexandra Fleischmann told Anadolu ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day, marked annually on Sept. 10.
“Not only the health sector, but also education, employment, and even agriculture and the media play a role,” said Fleischmann, a scientist in WHO’s Department of Mental Health and Substance Use.
In high-income countries, suicide is strongly linked to mental health conditions such as depression, alcohol use disorders, or a history of previous attempts. But many suicides happen impulsively in moments of acute crisis.
Factors such as relationship breakdowns, discrimination, unemployment, financial hardship, chronic pain, abuse or humanitarian emergencies can all intensify the risk.
Warning signs are not always visible, but when they appear, they should never be ignored, said Fleischmann.
“When someone says, ‘I can’t do it any longer, I don’t want to be here, I want it all to end,’ one should take it seriously and listen to them,” she explained. Changes in behavior, such as withdrawal in someone who was previously sociable, also warrant concern.
- Suicide around the globe
Suicide can strike at any stage of life and in all regions of the world. In 2021, it was the third leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 29. Nearly three-quarters of suicides take place in low- and middle-income countries, WHO data shows.
One of the deadliest drivers is pesticide ingestion, which accounts for about 20% of all suicides. Deaths often occur in rural agricultural communities, where pesticides are accessible but emergency care may be limited.
Reducing pesticide-related deaths by half could cut global suicides by 150,000 a year, according to research. Pesticides are often more lethal than substances used in high-income countries, making deaths more likely and leaving survivors with devastating long-term consequences.
“Governments have a responsibility to ban acutely toxic, highly hazardous pesticides so that they are no longer available,” Fleischmann said.
Since nine out of 10 people who attempt suicide and survive do not go on to die by suicide later, removing the most lethal means is seen as a key pillar of prevention.
In the US, at least a dozen studies have found that access to firearms is associated with increased suicide risk. One study found overall suicides were nearly twice as high in states with high gun ownership.
In the UK, suicides by gas inhalation declined sharply after carbon-monoxide-free natural gas was introduced, with studies estimating that as many as 7,000 lives were saved over a 10-year period.
- Dangers of the online world
The rise of social media has added a new level of complexity. Harmful content and cyberbullying can exacerbate suicidal thoughts, but online platforms can also offer support networks.
“There are opportunities and there are risks, and both need to be addressed and tackled,” Fleischmann said, noting that WHO is working on resources for parents and caregivers to help manage young people’s online engagement, as well as systematic reviews to keep pace with evolving evidence.
AI-driven chatbot platforms are also emerging as a concern.
In August, the parents of a 16-year-old boy in the US who killed himself after speaking with ChatGPT sued OpenAI, accusing the platform of coaching him on his suicide.
- Breaking the silence
For Fleischmann, public awareness remains critical.
“Those days that are being observed, like World Suicide Prevention Day on Sept. 10, or World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10, really serve to break the silence and to start a conversation,” she said.
Globally, suicide rates have declined since 2000, with five of six WHO regions showing decreases. But the picture is uneven.
“There’s one region, the WHO Region of the Americas, where actually we see an increase in the suicide rates,” Fleischmann noted.
Even with progress, the decline is insufficient to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goal of reducing the global suicide rate by one-third by 2030.
This year’s World Suicide Prevention Day message, Fleischmann said, is clear: “It is really to acknowledge it as an issue, not to hide it, and to create understanding for it and support.”
She added that preventing suicide is not only the duty of governments.
“Each one of us can be open and looking for warning signs and then start a conversation and just ask and listen,” she said.
Asking direct questions, she stressed, does not put ideas into someone’s head.
“You can ask, ‘Are you thinking about taking your life?’” she said, explaining that listening without judgment, ensuring the person is not left alone and helping them connect with professional support are extremely helpful ways to prevent suicide.
“Reaching out can save lives,” she said.
