3.5 Suicide

Sometimes people take their own lives, suicide is a sensitive issue, and one that seems to be growing.

If we look at the bare facts:

• Befrienders Worldwide summarise The World Health Organisation's report called "Preventing suicide: A global imperative", which  estimates that each year approximately one million people die from suicide, which represents a global death rate of 16 people per 100,000 or one death every 40 seconds. 
• It is predicted that by 2020 the rate of death by suicide will increase to one every 20 seconds. 
• In the last 45 years suicide rates have increased by 60% worldwide. 
• The patterns are also changing: 
• Suicide is now among the three leading causes of death among those aged 15-44 (male and female). Suicide attempts are up to 20 times more frequent than completed suicides. 
• Although suicide rates have traditionally been highest amongst elderly males, rates among young people have been increasing to such an extent that they are now the group at highest risk in a third of all countries. 
• Suicides globally by age are as follows: 55% are aged between 15 to 44 years and 45% are aged 45 years and over. 

Mental health disorders (particularly depression and substance abuse) are associated with more than 90% of all cases of suicide. However, suicide results from many complex social and cultural factors and is more likely to occur during periods of socioeconomic, national, family and individual crisis.

Move on now to Activity 3.5 where we ask you to read a short article by Maia Szalavitz who explores the paradox that the countries with the happiest people also have the highest rates of suicide.