The World Health Organization urged countries to do more to prevent suicides by improving care for those with mental problems and making the weapons used in suicides more difficult to obtain.

"Suicide is a major problem of public health which many people believe isn't a problem, prefer not to talk about and really make an effort to hide," said Dr. Jose Bertolote, of the agency's mental health department.

According to WHO, some 1 million people commit suicide each year. The figures are highest in the Baltic states, Russia and Finland, and lowest in Muslim countries and Latin America.

Many suicides could be prevented if people didn't have easy access to weapons, poisons or medicines, health officials say. Timely treatment of mental illness and drug and alcohol dependency would further reduce the figures.

"We want to give the message to the authorities and the public that suicide is not inevitable, and that those who are suicidal do not inevitably commit suicide," said Lars Mehlum, president of the International Association for Suicide Prevention.

"The vast majority of suicidal people do not want to die, they just don't want to live under the conditions in which they have to live. We can do a lot. And this isn't just for doctors — this is for the conscientious citizen."

The comments came as many health care workers are prepared to observe World Suicide Prevention Day.

WHO says educating health care workers to detect mental problems and running courses to help children and adults handle life's problems — such as unemployment or relationship difficulties — can prevent many suicide attempts.

Restrictions on firearms in some countries also have led to a decrease in their use for suicide, the organization said.

A big problem in developing countries, WHO said, is the ready availability of pesticides, which are often used in suicide attempts.

Reference Source 102
September 9, 2004

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