“Now is the time to act,” UN urges on release of first global report on suicide prevention
September 12, 2014
The United Nations’ World Health Organization (WHO) has released a historic report on suicide around the world, with a call to action that lays out priorities for prevention. More than 800,000 people die by suicide each year, with the leading methods being pesticide poisoning, hanging, and firearms. The report states that limiting access to the means of suicide is an effective way to reduce the number of deaths. Countries are urged to invest in other preventive measures as well, especially the creation of a national plan for prevention, the adoption of responsible media reporting protocols, and robust support for mental health and substance abuse recovery care. “This report, the first WHO publication of its kind, presents a comprehensive overview of suicide, suicide attempts and successful suicide prevention efforts worldwide. We know what works. Now is the time to act,” said Shekhar Saxena, director of WHO’s Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse.
Spark Extra! Read the WHO report, Preventing Suicide: A Global Imperative.