The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that suicide accounts for more than one in every 100 deaths worldwide, calling it a growing global health emergency. New figures show that in 2021, around 727,000 people lost their lives to suicide. While global rates have fallen by 35 percent since 2000, experts say the progress is too slow to meet international prevention goals.
WHO officials highlighted that for every suicide, there are at least 20 attempts, leaving behind not only victims but also families and communities carrying deep emotional scars. The report stressed that suicide continues to be one of the top three causes of death among people aged 15 to 29, ranking second for young women and third for young men in 2021.
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Although global trends show some decline, certain regions are facing worsening conditions. In the Americas, suicide rates increased by 17 percent between 2000 and 2021. Nearly three-quarters of suicides occur in low-income countries, but higher population-adjusted rates are often reported in wealthier nations due to stronger data collection.
The WHO also raised alarms about rising mental health problems, including depression and anxiety, which have been increasing faster than the global population over the past decade. Currently, more than one billion people worldwide are living with mental health conditions. Factors such as social media pressures and the Covid-19 pandemic have further worsened the situation, especially for young people.
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Despite this growing crisis, global investment in mental health remains extremely low. Since 2017, only 2 percent of health budgets worldwide have been dedicated to mental health, and just 9 percent of those living with depression are able to access treatment.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called mental health “the greatest public health challenge of our time,” urging governments to allocate more resources, strengthen prevention efforts, and make mental health care accessible to all.
