WHO sounds alarm over suicides globally Geneva - Agencies The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday urged governments to develop a national suicide prevention strategy as the world marked the World Suicide Prevention Day. The UN health body called on governments to conduct a situation analysis to identify the extent of the problem with a view of addressing it. Through a statement published on its website, WHO urged authorities to identify risk factors and address concerns surrounding stigma associated with suicide. “Every year almost one million people die by suicide around the world and it remains a significant social and public health problem. Worldwide, suicide is one of the three leading causes of death among those aged between 15 and 44,” read the statement. WHO Assistant Director-General for Non Communicable Diseases and Mental Health Oleg Chestnov added that suicide was a condition that needed priority intervention as it would contribute more than two percent to the global burden of disease by the year 2020. “In 1998 suicide constituted 1.8 percent of the total disease burden and this is estimated to rise to 2.4 percent by 2020. With a disproportionate impact on the world’s youth we owe it to future generations to act now,” he said. The World Health Organisation also indicated that an average of 3,000 people commit suicide every day. “For every person who completes a suicide, 20 or more may attempt to end their lives,” noted WHO on their website. “Since suicide is largely preventable it is imperative that governments invest human and financial resources in suicide prevention,” read a document posted on WHO website. The organisation also noted the need for political commitment in the fight against suicide. WHO listed family history of suicide, drug abuse, mental disorders, stress and negative influence as some of the risk factors.