Medical News
WHO takes action to stem rise in suicide
New guidelines released as pandemic drives up rates in some countries
Rising suicide rates in some parts of the world have prompted the World Health Organization ( WHO ) to produce new guidance to help countries improve suicide prevention and care .
According to the organisation ’ s latest estimates , more people die each year from suicide than from HIV , malaria , or breast cancer — or even war and homicide . In 2019 , more than 700,000 people died by suicide , equivalent to one in every 100 deaths .
“ We cannot — and must not — ignore suicide ,” Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , the WHO ’ s directorgeneral , told the press . “ Each one is a tragedy . Our attention to suicide prevention is even more important now , after many months living with the COVID-19 pandemic , with many of the risk factors for suicide — job loss , financial stress , and social isolation � still very much present .”
Among young people aged 15-29 , suicide was the fourth leading cause of death after road injury , tuberculosis , and interpersonal violence .
But rates vary across countries and regions and between men and women . Compared to the global average of nine deaths by suicide per 100,000 people , the rate in Southeast Asia is slightly
higher , at 10 fatalities per 100,000 people , and has been rising in some countries in the region .
Singapore reported a 13 percent increase in suicides last year , with 452 cases , the highest since 2012 . While an increase in suicide deaths was observed across all age groups , the number of elderly aged 60 and above who took their own lives reached a high of 154 , a 26 percent increase over 2019 .
�COVID-19 has severely affected the nation ’ s economy , lifestyle , and mental health ,” said Gasper Tan , Chief Executive of Samaritans of Singapore ( SOS ), in a statement . “ We are extremely worried about how our elderly are coping during this public health crisis . During the pandemic period , the elderly were more likely to face social isolation and financial worries . Difficulty in constantly adapting to changes as well as prolonged feelings of loneliness may be devastating .”
Men accounted for more than 70 percent of all suicides in 2020 in Singapore , and for every successful attempt , at least six are un successful .
Malaysia has also been showing a spike in suicides , with police there recently reporting 4�� suicides in the first five months of 2021 , an average of three a day and nearly double the rate in 2020 . With lockdowns continuing for most of the year , experts expect the rate to spike further .
And in Thailand , 2,551 people killed themselves in the first half of last year , up 22 percent from the same period in 2019 . Health officials have attributed the increase to pandemic-related stress .
Even before coronavirus exacerbated economic hardship , Thailand had the highest suicide rate in Southeast Asia , prompting mental health experts and advocates to push for more resources to tackle the problem .
The WHO ’ s new guidance advises countries to adopt four strategies to help prevent suicide : limiting access to the means of suicide , such as hazardous pesticides and firearms , encouraging the media to report on suicide responsibly , teaching adolescents socio-emotional life skills , and identifying early on people thought to be at risk of suicide .
“ While a comprehensive national suicide prevention strategy should be the ultimate goal for all governments , starting suicide prevention with [ these ] interventions can save lives and prevent the heartbreak that follows for those left behind ,” said Dr Alexandra Fleischmann , suicide prevention expert at the WHO .
28 AUGUST 2021 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com