Lanka fourth in suicides

4 September 2014 01:58 pm - 8 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sri Lanka was ranked fourth among 172 countries in suicides, a report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday revealed.

Sri Lanka had 28.8 suicides for every 100,000 people.

However, the WHO cautioned that suicide figures were often sketchy, with less than half of those nations keeping clear tallies.

WHO, which called suicide a major public health problem that must be confronted and stemmed, studied 172 countries in the report.

The global rate was put at 11.4 per 100,000, with men almost twice as likely as women to take their own lives.

The most suicide-prone countries were Guyana (44.2 per 100,000), followed by North and South Korea (38.5 and 28.9 respectively).

Next came Sri Lanka with 28.8.

Lithuania (28.2), Surinam (27.8), Mozambique (27.4), Nepal and Tanzania (24.9 each), Burundi (23.1), India (21.1) and South Sudan (19.8) followed Sri Lanka.

In their wake were Russia and Uganda (both with 19.5), Hungary (19.1), Japan (18.5) and Belarus (18.3).

The report said a person commits suicide every 40 seconds, an avoidable tragedy that fails to grab attention because of taboos and stigma.

“Every suicide is a tragedy. It is estimated that over 800,000 people die by suicide and that there are many suicide attempts for each death,” said WHO Chief Margaret Chan in the landmark report capping a decade of research.

“The impact on families, friends and communities is devastating and far-reaching, even long after persons dear to them have taken their own lives,” she added.

The report said that in 2012 high-income countries had a slightly higher suicide rate — 12.7 per 100,000 people, versus 11.2 in low- and middle-income nations.

WHO cautioned that suicide figures were often sketchy, with less than half of those nations keeping clear tallies.

“This report encourages countries to continue the good work where it is already ongoing and to place suicide prevention high on the agenda, regardless of where a country stands currently in terms of suicide rate or suicide prevention activities,” Chan added. (AFP)

Comments - 8

ANTON Thursday, 04 September 2014 02:19 PM

UNLESS AUTHORITIES TAKE NECESSARY ACTIONS WE WILL GAIN THE FIRST PLACE.

dhamarapalad Thursday, 04 September 2014 02:46 PM

srilanka government out of contral of corruption, scams,killing the civilians,no law in the country, unemployment is very high,cost of living is high rocket, poverty.no money to go to schools,student are on the road, girls are in pothal houses,

raj Thursday, 04 September 2014 09:04 PM

another record for the miracle of Asia via DM Android App

Azid Friday, 05 September 2014 10:18 AM

Since independence, no politician, except one or two bothered to develop the country. They are corrupt and continue to play with the public. The public is under pressure and finding it difficult to make the ends meet, so few choose the difficult option, suicide, very sad.

kalu Friday, 05 September 2014 01:26 PM

economic list 63rd out of 80 countries, suicides 4th among 172,google serch for sex 1st, Developing....

Arthika Friday, 05 September 2014 01:55 PM

This is really shocking!

tony Friday, 05 September 2014 05:40 PM

DONT WORRY FOLKS, WE CAN VERY SOON BECOME NUMBER 1

tomsam Friday, 05 September 2014 08:39 PM

What about mass murders since the holocaust???
Sinking lanka top the list on this category, with pakse mafia at its helm

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Lanka fourth in suicides

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