PHA-Exchange> ON WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY, UN CALLS FOR GREATER EFFORTS TO TACKLE SUICIDE

[Claudio]

From: "Vern Weitzel" <vern at coombs.anu.edu.au>
From: UNNews at un.org

ON WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY, UN CALLS FOR GREATER EFFORTS TO TACKLE SUICIDE

With at least 870,000 people killing themselves each year and 450 million 
others around the world
affected by mental, neurological or behavioural problems at any given time, 
the United Nations today
marked World Mental Health Day with calls for greater attention to be 
afforded to the causes and
treatment of suicide.

<"http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/sgsm10661.doc.htm">message. “Deaths 
due to suicide,
and the factors that can lead to it, do not receive enough attention.

If we add to that the many attempted
suicides, we can see the real scale of this public health problem and human 
tragedy.
Although one of the most important risk factors for suicide is the presence 
of a mental disorder,
such as depression or schizophrenia, and there are efficient and affordable 
ways of dealing with
these disorders, not everybody in need has access to treatment.

The UN World Health Organization
(<"http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2006/pr53/en/index.html">WHO) 
noted that suicide in some regions, constitute the
third leading cause of death in the age group 15-35 years. Suicide is the 
leading cause of death for
this age group in China and the second in the European region.

WHO underscored the “huge gaps” in treatment and resources and called for 
mental health policy,
plans and legislation to be integrated into national health systems.

Reducing the global suicide rate means effectively addressing the serious
and growing burden of mental illness around the world.