The World Health Organization (WHO) has updated its fact sheet on suicide. Key facts include:
- Close to 800 000 people die due to suicide every year.
- For every suicide there are many more people who attempt suicide every year. A prior suicide attempt is the single most important risk factor for suicide in the general population.
- Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds.
- 78% of global suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries.
Ingestion of pesticide, hanging and firearms are among the most common methods of suicide globally.
Read more about this on the WHO website: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs398/en/