The World Health Organization (WHO) said Tuesday that suicide accounts for more than one in every 100 deaths worldwide, warning that urgent action is needed to tackle a growing mental health crisis, especially among young people.
Global suicide rates have shown a modest decline in recent decades, but progress remains too slow to meet international targets. In 2021, the latest year with complete data, an estimated 727,000 people died by suicide, according to the UN health agency.
“Globally, suicide accounts for more than one in every 100 deaths, and for each death, there are 20 suicide attempts,” said Devora Kestel, interim head of the WHO’s department for noncommunicable diseases and mental health. She noted that the impact extends far beyond the individual, leaving friends, families, and caregivers to endure lasting hardship.
Young people face the greatest risk
The WHO’s World Mental Health Today report highlighted suicide as a leading cause of death among young people across regions and economic backgrounds. In 2021, it was the second leading cause of death for girls and women aged 15 to 29 and the third for men in the same age group.
A new @WHO report reveals that over 1 billion people globally are living with mental health disorders, a growing crisis that calls for urgent action.#NBSUpdates pic.twitter.com/JtDGqYTYeg
— Mugenyi Henry (@MugenyiHenry_) September 2, 2025
While the global age-adjusted suicide rate fell 35 percent between 2000 and 2021, the agency said the world is not on track to meet its goal of reducing suicides by one-third between 2015 and 2030. Current trends suggest only a 12 percent decline will be achieved.
Regional differences remain stark
Suicide rates have dropped in most regions, but the Americas saw a 17 percent rise during the same period. Nearly three-quarters of suicides occur in lower-income countries, where most of the world’s population lives.
Wealthier nations often report higher rates relative to population, but the WHO cautioned that data is more comprehensive in those countries, making comparisons with poorer regions difficult.
Mental health disorders on the rise
The report warned that even as suicide rates decline, other mental health conditions are increasing rapidly. Between 2011 and 2021, the number of people living with disorders such as anxiety and depression grew faster than the global population. More than one billion people are now affected worldwide.
Mark van Ommeren, head of the WHO’s mental health unit, pointed to multiple factors behind the surge but highlighted two major ones: the role of social media and the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Limited investment in mental health
The WHO voiced concern over stagnant funding for mental health services. Since 2017, government spending has remained at a median of just 2 percent of total health budgets. Only 9 percent of people with depression globally receive treatment, the report found.
“Transforming mental health services is one of the most pressing public health challenges,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement.
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