The World Health Organisation (WHO) says more than 700,000 people commit suicide globally every year with 77 per cent of all global suicides occurring in low and middle-income countries.

Dr Walter Mulombo, WHO Country Representative to Nigeria, said this in a message to commemorate the 2022 World Suicide Prevention Day.

Mulombo said that the day which was being celebrated on September 10 yearly was aimed at raising the much-needed awareness that suicide was preventable.

“For every suicide, there are likely 20 other people making a suicide attempt and many more have serious thoughts of suicide.

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“Suicide is the fourth leading cause of deaths among 15 to 29 year old people,” he said.

According to him, the 2022 theme is “Creating hope through action” which serves as a reminder that there was an alternative to suicide.

He said: “The theme also aspires to inspire confidence and light in all of us, aimed to empower individuals to be in charge of their lives and value the one life they have.”

Mulombo said that creating hope through action highlights the importance of setting suicide prevention as a priority public health agenda by countries.

He said that this is particularly so where access to mental health services and availability of evidence-based interventions was already low.