WHO alarmed by 600 suicide cases per day

MANILA, Philippines – Alarmed over the 600 suicides occurring in the Western Pacific every day, the World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday asked member-states to “take firmer actions to reduce” these incidents.

“Effective treatments exist, and people at risk – those with mental disorders and substance abuse problems – should receive professional attention and follow up,” said Shin Young-soo, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific.

Shin added that globally, there are 800,000 suicide cases annually and 225,000 of them are in the Western Pacific.       

Although traditionally suicide rates have been highest among the male elderly, rates among young people have been increasing to such an extent that they are now the group at highest risk in a third of both developed and developing countries.

In some countries in the region, suicide is among the top 10 leading causes of death and one of the three leading causes of mortality among adolescents and young adults.

A WHO report showed that in Europe and North America, mental disorders – particularly depression and alcohol abuse – are the major risk factors for suicide.

But in Asian countries, impulsiveness plays an “important role” in cases.

“Suicide is complex with psychological, social, biological, cultural and environmental factors involved,” the report stated.

The call was made in line with yesterday’s World Suicide Prevention Day 2012.

In a forum on suicide prevention in Seoul on Sept. 13, Shin is set to encourage the adoption of “good and effective suicide prevention practices.”

He will also urge member-states to train healthcare providers in suicide prevention and to invest in mental health services and programs.

WHO had proposed some “protective factors against suicide” like helping at-risk individuals to become resilient in coping with adverse life events, instilling in them a sense of personal worth and confidence, and equipping them with effective coping and problem-solving skills and adaptive help-seeking behaviors.

“Protective factors also include helping them to develop stronger spiritual and social ties to be more socially connected through supportive relationships, and to maintain a healthy lifestyle through good dietary and sleep habits and abstinence from tobacco and illicit drugs,” WHO said in a statement.