The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday that one person puts an end to his life every 40 seconds globally and that more people die from suicide each year than war dead.
Hanging, poisoning and shooting are the most common methods of suicide, she said, urging governments to develop suicide prevention plans to help people cope with stress and reduce their access to suicide.
"Suicide is a global public health issue. All ages, races and regions in the world are affected by it, and losing any soul means losing a lot," the WHO report said.
Suicide is the second biggest cause of death for people aged 15-29 after road accidents. It is also the second leading cause of death for people aged 15-19 after pregnancy and childbirth. Adolescent suicide is the third leading cause of death after road accidents and violence.
Nearly 800,000 people commit suicide each year, more than those killed by malaria, breast cancer, war or homicide, the WHO said.
Retreat
Global averages have fallen in recent years, with a decline of 9.8% between 2010 and 2016, but were mixed. In the Americas region, for example, rates increased by 6% between 2010 and 2016.
The report also showed that the number of suicides in rich countries is almost three times the number of women, unlike low- and middle-income countries where the proportion of suicides of both sexes is more equal.
"Suicide prevention is possible," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Gebreisos said. "We call on all countries to develop in their national health and education programs proven strategies for suicide prevention."
Restrictions on access to pesticides are one of the most effective ways to quickly reduce the number of suicides, FAO said.
Pesticides
Insecticides are commonly used in suicide, usually resulting in death because they are very toxic, and there is no vaccine for treatment, and are often used in remote areas where there is no medical assistance nearby.
Studies in Sri Lanka indicate that a ban on insecticides has led to a 70 percent reduction in suicides, saving an estimated 93,000 lives between 1995 and 2015.