Suicide Mortality in the Americas. Regional Report 2010–2014

Abstract

Suicide is a serious public health problem surrounded by stigma, myths, and taboos. With an annual average of 81,746 suicide deaths in the period 2010–2014 and an age-adjusted suicide rate of 9.3 per 100,000 population (age-unadjusted rate of 9.6), suicide continues to be a public health problem of great relevance in the Region of the Americas. Contrary to common belief, suicides are preventable with timely, evidence-based, and often low-cost interventions. It is estimated that for each suicide that occurs, there are more than 20 attempts. Suicide can occur at any age and it is the third highest cause of death among young people between the ages of 20 and 24 in the Region of the Americas. This report corresponds to the five-year period between 2010 and 2014. It provides a general description of suicide mortality in the Americas, by subregions and countries. It analyzes the distribution of suicide according to age, sex, and methods used, along with the changes in suicide from 2010 to 2014. event and address the problem of suicidal behavior.