Published on: 2026-09-10
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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September 10, 2026 Healthcare
Every year, 727,000 people worldwide die by suicide. Among people aged 15 to 29, suicide became the third leading cause of death in 2021. To raise awareness of this global problem, the WHO established World Suicide Prevention Day. It is observed on September 10.
Every suicide is a tragedy that affects entire families and communities. Suicides occur in all regions of the planet. Moreover, according to data from 2021, nearly three quarters (73 percent) of all cases occurred in low- and middle-income countries.
Risk factors vary: in high-income countries, they are more often associated with depression, alcohol dependence, and past suicide attempts. At the same time, many take an impulsive, reckless step during moments of crisis, unable to cope with financial difficulties, relationship breakups, illness, or while facing conflicts or disasters.
Vulnerable groups facing discrimination, such as refugees, migrants, indigenous peoples, LGBTQ communities, as well as prisoners, are included in the high-risk group.
To protect the population and prevent suicides, the WHO recommends restricting access to means of suicide (pesticides, firearms, certain medications), responsible media coverage of the topic, teaching teenagers emotional and social skills, as well as timely identification of people prone to suicide and providing them with the necessary support.
Implementing these steps requires coordination between the fields of healthcare, education, labor and agriculture, business, the justice system, political structures, and the media, as well as regular monitoring of the situation and funding.
Serious barriers remain stigma and taboo, which prevent people from seeking help. To date, only a small number of countries have made suicide prevention a priority, and only 38 countries have developed a national strategy in this area. Additionally, there is still a lack of quality data: reliable demographic registration exists in only 80 WHO member countries.
Reducing the suicide rate has been recognized as an international priority and included in the UN sustainable development agenda as well as WHO programs. The foundational documents in this area remain the WHO report on suicide prevention from 2014 and the 2021 practical guide.
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