Tanzania makes top ten global suicide list

[RUCCI]

DEATHS: Over 800, 000 people die by suicide every year

Tanzania is among top ten countries in the world with the highest rate of suicides, according to a new report released by the World Health Organisation last week.

The WHO’s World Suicide Report: “Preventing Suicide: A Global Imperative,” placed Tanzania - alongside Nepal - at position eight, both of them recording 25 deaths per 100,000 people per year.

The shocking survey brings into sharp focus the country’s approach to dealing with mental health problems that affect some members of its population. It also raises questions on whether Tanzania has credible national suicide prevention strategies.

Other notable inclusions on the list of the most suicide-prone countries were Guyana, North Korea, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Lithuania, Suriname, Mozambique, Nepal (which shares the same position as Tanzania) and Burundi which rounds off the top ten with 23 deaths per 100,000 people.

Mozambique, which occupies position seven, is presently the most suicide-prone country in Africa with 27 deaths per 100,000 people per year.

More than 800, 000 people die by suicide every year – around one person every 40 seconds, according to WHO’s first global report on suicide prevention. The report also revealed that some 75 per cent of suicides occurred in low- and middle-income countries.

“This report is a call for action to address a large public health problem which has been shrouded in taboo for far too long,” said Dr Margaret Chan, the director-general of WHO.

Pesticide poisoning, hanging and firearms were among the most common methods of suicide globally, the report indicated. It noted that limiting access to these means could help prevent people from dying by suicide.

Another key to reducing deaths by suicide was a commitment by governments to the establishment and implementation of a coordinated plan of action. Currently, only 28 countries were known to have national suicide prevention strategies, the report revealed.

According to Ms Chan, the purpose of the report was to create awareness on the issue of suicide and to drastically cut down its rates all over the world by 2020.

Source: The Citizen

TZ makes top ten global suicide list - National - thecitizen.co.tz