More die from suicide than wars, murders: experts
By Matthew Verrinder
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - More people kill themselves each year than die from wars and murders combined, but most suicides could be prevented, two international experts on suicide said on Friday.
Some 20 million to 60 million try to kill themselves each year, but only about a million of them succeed, said Dr. Jose Manoel Bertolote, a mental health official at the World Health Organization in Geneva.
The ones who do end their lives "are tragic situations where help could have been provided," said Brian Mishara, president of the International Association for Suicide Prevention in Gondrin, France.
The two men spoke to reporters on the sidelines of a U.N. seminar marking this Sunday's World Suicide Prevention Day.
Suicide rates could be reduced if countries would limit access to pesticides, guns and medication and do a better job of treating people.
2006-09-08
22:21:12
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