The suicide map of the world

 

The World Health Organization has released global suicide statistics that reveals the United States is about average worldwide while the nations of Guyana, North and South Korea have the highest rates

More than 800,000 people each year worldwide commit suicide - around one person every 40 seconds - with many using poisoning, hanging or shooting to end their own lives, says the study released Thursday Sep 04,2014

In its first global report on suicide prevention, the United Nations health agency said some 75 % of suicides are among people from poor or middle-income countries and called for more to be done to reduce access to common means of suicide

High suicide rates also persist in more developed nations. South Korea, for example, has the world's third highest rate -- 28.9 out of every 100,000 people

The United States is grouped along with countries such as Australia, Spain and much of Europe whose rates are between 10 and 14.9 per 100,000

The report found that suicides take place all over the world and at almost any age. Globally, suicide rates are highest in people aged 70 and over, but in some countries, the highest rates are found among the young

In the 15 to 29-year age group, suicide is the second leading cause of death globally. 

The WHO's director general Margaret Chan said the report was a 'call for action to address a large public health problem which has been shrouded in taboo for far too long.'

Pesticide poisoning, hanging and firearms are among the most common methods of suicide globally, the report said, and evidence from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the United States and Europe shows that restricting access to these means can help to stop people from committing suicide