According to the World Health Organization, a suicide occurs every 40 seconds somewhere in the world. About 800,000 people commit suicide each year, making it one of the most serious problems facing the world today. Suicide is caused by a variety of factors. One of the main problems is the lack of access to mental health care, as treatment is often too expensive or stigmatized.
10- South Africa
Average suicide rate per 100,000 people: 23.5
South Africa has one of the 20 highest suicide rates in the world, and adolescents in South Africa are more likely to develop psychological disorders. The need for mental health treatment stems from the country's alarmingly high rates of crime and violence.
In South Africa, university student mental health is seen as one of the most pressing public health issues. In addition, 75% of South Africans with mental illness may not have access to adequate mental health care services.
9- Russia
Average suicide rate per 100,000 people: 25.1
Russia is also considered one of the 20 countries with the highest suicide rate in the world. Suicide is a major social problem in Russia, with 25.1 suicides per 100,000 people. According to official sources, the suicide rate in Russia fell from 39.1 per 100,000 in 2000 and 41.4 in 1995 to 10.7 per 100,000 in 2021. It is believed that alcohol abuse accounts for half of all suicides.
8- Suriname
Average suicide rate per 100,000 people: 25.4
In Suriname, suicide and suicide attempts are considered major mental health problems, especially in the Niorry district. An epidemiological study conducted in the Nickerie watershed found that the average suicide attempt rate (207 per 100,000 people) and suicide rate (48 per 100,000 people) were high.
7- Lithuania
Average suicide rate per 100,000 population: 26.1
Important cultural factors are thought to be one of the reasons for the high suicide rate in the region, which includes stigma about mental health issues and the negative effects of alcohol consumption. Since the early 90s of the 20th century, the high suicide rate has been a serious and ongoing problem for Lithuania and its neighbors, and it is one of the top 20 countries in the world with the highest suicide rate.
6- Micronesia
Average suicide rate per 100,000 population: 28.2
Micronesia has the highest suicide rate, making it among the top 20 countries with the highest suicide rates in the world.
As a result of post-war social unrest, community-level organizations in Micronesia mostly collapsed, and the nuclear family is now responsible for the socialization function of adolescents. The ensuing family intergenerational conflict appears to be the leading cause of teen suicide.
5- Kiribati
Average suicide rate per 100,000 population: 28.3
Kiribati has the highest age-standardized suicide mortality rate among the Pacific islands. Between 2007 and 2017, self-injury-related deaths increased by 14.4%. There is a strong suspicion that this alarming rise is largely due to climate change. Residents of Kiribati have been worried that if a small storm hits the island, the entire country will be swallowed up by the Pacific Ocean due to rising sea levels. As a result, it is also one of the 20 countries with the highest suicide rate in the world.
4- South Korea
Average suicide rate per 100,000 people: 28.6
South Korea's suicide rate, which rose slightly last year and remains the highest among industrialized countries, reflects the long-term effects of the pandemic. In 2019, there were 28.6 suicides per 100,000 people in South Korea.
Due to poverty and isolation, the suicide mortality rate among older people in South Korea remains the highest, although the number of suicide deaths among young people is rising.
3- Eswatini
Average suicide rate per 100,000 population: 29.4
In Eswatini, suicide is one of the leading causes of death. In 2016, the estimated normalized age rate was 16.7 per 100,000 people. The following factors are associated with suicidal behaviour among school-age adolescents in Eswatini: age, gender, food insecurity, and sexual behaviour. As a result, it is also one of the top 20 countries in the world with the highest suicide rate.
2- Guyana
Average suicide rate per 100,000 population: 40.3
With a suicide rate of 40.3 per 100,000 inhabitants (compared to the global average of 16 per 100,000 inhabitants), the South American nation of Guyana has the highest suicide rate among the 20 countries with the highest suicide rates in the world.
In addition, due to the lack of an effective crisis hotline in the state, an inadequate supply of social workers and psychologists, and fewer than ten full-time psychiatrists, there are few options for those in need of assistance.
1- Lesotho
Average suicide rate per 100,000 people: 72.4
In our list of the 20 countries with the highest suicide rates in the world, Lesotho tops the list with an average suicide rate of 72.4, which is a staggering number. Overall, there is so little awareness of mental health issues, and the social stigma of seeking help is so strong that many people choose to suffer in silence or make the tragic decision to end their lives.