1,000,000 suicides

... every year a million people take their own lives.

Published on September 12, 2004 By mignuna In Health & Medicine

The World Health Organisation is warning that suicide kills more people each year than road traffic accidents in most European countries, and globally, suicide takes more lives than murder and war put together.

The world annual death toll from suicide is approximately one million people per year. This accounts for half of all violent deaths worldwide, says the WHO, warning that estimates say fatalities could rise to 1.5 million by 2020.

"Suicide is a tragic global public health problem,” says Catherine Le Galès-Camus, WHO’s assistant director general for mental health. “There is an urgent need for coordinated and intensified global action to prevent this needless toll.

In 2001, the global toll from suicide was greater than the 500,000 deaths from homicide and the 230,000 deaths from war combined. An estimated 10 to 20 million people also survive failed suicide attempts each year, resulting in injury, hospitalisation and trauma.

The highest suicide rates are found in Eastern Europe, whereas people in Latin America, Muslim countries and a few Asian nations are least likely to die by their own hand.

Suicide rates tend to increase with age but “there has recently been an alarming worldwide increase in suicidal behaviours amongst young people aged 15 to 25”, warns WHO. Men also successfully commit suicide more than women – with the exception of rural China and parts of India.

Reference: Link

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Comments

DylanZimmerman

on Sep 12, 2004

I read somwhere that more men are successful (if you can call it that) at suicide because men tend to be more impulsive than women, and are also less likely to talk about their feelings and get help as women are.

Although the statistics are scary, I think its only brought home to you when it happens to someone you know.

Excellent article, on a topic most people avoid.

Dyl xx

Manopeace

on Sep 12, 2004

Every suicide also kills a part of the loved ones left behind. It is a thing the living never get over...an ultimate punishment.
The victim himself is selfish if you look at it in that light.

DylanZimmerman

on Sep 12, 2004

I don't think suicides act out of selfishness somehow. Maybe they don't realise that people love them, depression makes you feel like that- alone, unlovable etc. I understand how those left behind could feel angry and think them selfish (and believe me, I know) but looking at it objectively I don't think suicide deserves the stigma that comes with it, or the idea that the victim is selfish or cowardly.

Gideon MacLeish

on Sep 12, 2004

Even when someone does feel loved, suicide can be seen by the suicidal one as the practical way out. I am learning this the hard way. Although I would never do it, so don't worry folks, it has crossed my mind a time or two that if I committed suicide and made it look like an accident, my wife and kids would be taken care of with my social security benefits. Add to that the number of American farmers in the mid-80's farm crisis who committed suicide for that very reason. I would actually consider that a selfless intent (it has an air of "messiah complex" about it, frankly).

My personal opinion is, it's a tragic world when someone could truly leave their family better off by taking themselves out.

mignuna

on Sep 13, 2004

sadly, that sounds right, dyl

Although the statistics are scary, I think its only brought home to you when it happens to someone you know.

indeded, dyl. a million people every year !. too much for me to comprehend, i think.

Every suicide also kills a part of the loved ones left behind. It is a thing the living never get over...an ultimate punishment.The victim himself is selfish if you look at it in that light.

manopeace, i find it hard to understand, i really do. but i think someone must be facing some terrible demons to do that.

I don't think suicides act out of selfishness somehow. Maybe they don't realise that people love them, depression makes you feel like that- alone, unlovable etc.

that's true, dyl. i think a lot of peole that commit suicide sadly actually think others will be better off without them.

I understand how those left behind could feel angry and think them selfish (and believe me, I know) but looking at it objectively I don't think suicide deserves the stigma that comes with it, or the idea that the victim is selfish or cowardly.

dyl, again true. i've been there too. i can't say that i had any sensation of thinking my friend selfish. in fact, i actually felt that i had failed in some way.

Although I would never do it, so don't worry folks, it has crossed my mind a time or two that if I committed suicide and made it look like an accident, my wife and kids would be taken care of with my social security benefits

oh gid, i can't tell you how sad i feel hearing that, although i do know that your commitment to your family is paramount to you. can i say that if you ever do feel this way, please yell it from the rooftops here on ju. one word from you and i'll be in touch in a flash, ok ?.

My personal opinion is, it's a tragic world when someone could truly leave their family better off by taking themselves out.

a sad but true point, gid. money makes the world go round.

vanessa/mig XX

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