WHO Report: Suicide worldwide in 2019

Suicide worldwide in 2019 report was published by World Health Organization (WHO).

Key findings of report

• Report finds that, reducing global suicide mortality rate by a third is an indicator as well as a target in United Nations-mandated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). But world will not be able to reach this target.
• Only 38 countries have a national suicide prevention strategy, as of now.
• Suicide crisis was already in place in 2019. About 7,03,000 people (one in 100) died by suicide in 2019.
• In 2019, global age-standardized suicide rate was 9.0 per 1,00,000 population.
• 58% of the suicides occurred before the age of 50 years.
• Suicide was fourth-leading cause of death in young people aged 15-29 worldwide in 2019.
• 77% of global suicides occurred in low-income and middle-income countries in 2019.
• Africa, Europe and South-East Asia accounted for suicide rates higher than world’s average.

Suicides in India

As per the WHO report, India has highest suicide rate in Southeast Asian region. National Crime Records Bureau shows that, about 1,34,516 cases of suicide were reported in 2018. Rate of suicide was 9.9 in 2017 which increased to 10.2 in 2018.

Month: Current Affairs - June, 2021