In the report published today ‘Suicide Around the World in 2019,’ the World Health Organization (WHO) assured that among youngsters aged 15-29 years, suicide was the fourth leading death cause after road traffic accidents, tuberculosis or interpersonal violence.

The highest rates were reported in African nations, with 11.2 per 100,000 inhabitants; Europe (10.5) and Southeast Asia with 10.2; while the lowest incidence was in the Eastern Mediterranean region (6.4).

Globally, the figures began to decline in the 20 years from 2000 to 2019, except in the Americas, where a 17 percent growth was evident in the same period, the text refers.

‘Our attention to suicide prevention is even more important now, after many months living with the Covid-19 pandemic. Many of the risk factors such as job loss, financial stress and social isolation are still very much present,’ noted WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Currently, only 38 countries are known to have a national strategy for the prevention of this disease, the text refers.

To address that situation, the health entity published on Thursday a complete guide with four strategies that include limiting access to the means of suicide, such as pesticides and highly dangerous firearms, in addition to educating the media on responsible information on the issue.

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