PAHO/WHO today reported that more than 800,000 die from suicide every year and it said that Guyana had the world’s highest estimated suicide rate in 2012.

Guyana’s has trended high for suicide on several international surveys and though the government has at various times said the problem was being seriously addressed, it doesn’t seem to have had any impact.

The PAHO/WHO press release follows:

Geneva/Washington, D.C.,  (PAHO/WHO) – More than 800,000 people around the world die from suicide every year – around one person every 40 seconds – according to WHO’s first global report on suicide prevention, published today. Some 75% of suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries.

“Unfortunately, suicide all too often fails to be prioritized as a major public health problem,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan. “Despite an increase in research and knowledge about suicide and its prevention, the taboo and stigma surrounding suicide persist, and often people do not seek help or are left alone. And if they do seek help, many health systems and services fail to provide timely and effective help.”

Suicide occurs all over the world and can take place at almost any age. Globally, rates of suicide are highest in people aged 70 years and over. In some individual countries, however, the highest rates are found among the young. Notably, suicide is the second-leading cause of death in 15- to 29-year-olds globally.

In the Americas, the average estimated suicide rate is 7.3 per 100,000 inhabitants, which is lower than in other WHO regions and lower than the global average of 11.4 per 100,000. However, Guyana has the highest estimated suicide rate for 2012 in the world, and Suriname has the sixth-highest. Data from the Americas show that suicide rates first peak among young people, remain at the same level for other age groups, and rise again among older men.