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London (CNN) - The number of people worldwide who die from suicide is declining, but still, one person commits suicide every 40 seconds, according to new figures from the World Health Organization, which urged countries to do more to stop these preventable deaths.
Between 2010 and 2016, the overall suicide rate decreased by 9.8%, the UN health agency said in its second report on the issue. The only region that experienced an increase was America.
“Every death is a tragedy for family, friends and colleagues. Now, suicides can be prevented. We call on all countries to incorporate proven strategies for suicide prevention in their national health and training programs, ”said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
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WHO said about 800,000 people die by suicide each year, more than those who die from malaria, breast cancer or war or homicides, and called it a "serious global public health problem." The UN agency said only 38 countries have suicide prevention strategies.
Suicide rates were higher than the global standardized average by age (10.5 per 100,000 people) in Africa, Europe and Southeast Asia.
Worldwide, more men than women committed suicide, the WHO said, with 7.5 suicide deaths per 100,000 women and 13.7 suicides per 100,000 men. The only countries where the suicide rate was estimated to be higher in women than in men were Bangladesh, China, Lesotho, Morocco and Myanmar.
"While 79% of suicides in the world occurred in low and middle-income countries, high-income countries had the highest rate, with 11.5 per 100,000," said WHO.
"Almost three times more men than women die from suicide in high-income countries, in contrast to low and middle-income countries, where the rate is more equal," said the WHO statement.
“Suicide was the second cause of death among young people aged 15 to 29, after traffic accidents. In adolescents aged 15 to 19, suicide is the second leading cause of death among girls (after maternal conditions) and the third among boys (after traffic accidents and interpersonal violence), ”added WHO .
The organization said that one way to reduce the global suicide rate would be to limit access to pesticides, which, along with hanging and firearms, are the most common method of suicide. For example, in Sri Lanka, a series of prohibitions of highly dangerous pesticides led to a 70% decrease in suicides, saving approximately 93,000 lives between 1995 and 2015. Similarly, in South Korea, the prohibition of herbicide paraquat It was followed by a 50% decrease in suicide deaths from pesticide poisoning between 2011 and 2013.
Other steps that WHO said have helped reduce suicides include educating the media on how to responsibly report suicide, identify people at risk early and help young people develop skills that help them cope with the stress of life.
World suicide prevention day is September 10.
How to get help
In the US In the US, call the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-8255. The International Association for the Prevention of Suicide and Befrienders Worldwide also provide contact information for crisis centers worldwide.
In countries of Latin America and Spain:
ARGENTINA
Suicide prevention line - suicide help online
PHONE: (54-11) 5275-1135 or 135 from Buenos Aires and GBA
Let's talk about everything
Email: contacto@hablemosdetodo.gob.ar
Telephone directory
BOLIVIA
Phone of Hope
La Paz: 2248486
BRAZIL
Valorização da Vida Center, CVV
Telephone: 188
Chat: (help by chat)
Email: atendimento@cvv.org.br
CHILE
Phone of Hope
Phone: 005642221200
Everything Improves, help by email or chat
COLOMBIA
Hope Phone
Barranquilla: (00 57 5) 372 27 27
Bogota: (57-1) 323 24 25
Medellin: (00 57 4) 284 66 00
San Juan de Pasto: 3016326701
COSTA RICA
Phone of Hope
Email: telefonodelaesperanzacr@gmail.com
ECUADOR
Phone of Hope
Quito: (593) 2 6000477 - 2923327
SPAIN
Phone of Hope: 717 003 717
HONDURAS
Phone of Hope
San Pedro Sula: (00 504) 2558 08 08
MEXICO
Hispanoamerican Institute of Suicidology, AC
Telephone: +5255 46313300
Email: info@suicidiologia.com.mx
Decide to Live Mexico, AC
PERU
Sense (Peruvian Center for Suicide and Suicide Prevention)
Telephone: 01 498 2711
Phone of Hope
Lima: (00 51 1) 273 8026
PUERTO RICO
PAS Line (First Psychosocial Aid)
Phone: 1-800-981-0023
URUGUAY
Last resource
Telephone: 0800-Vive (8483)
VENEZUELA
Phone of Hope
Valencia: 0241-8433308
National: 0-800-PSIQUE
Suicide