Researchers at Kyung Hee University College of Medicine in Seoul analyzed suicide cases in 102 countries between 1990 and 2021, reports DW.
According to a study published in Nature Mental Health, over the past 30 years the global suicide rate has decreased by 29.9 percent. In 1990, there were 10.33 cases per 100,000 people, while in 2021 the figure dropped to 7.24.
Scientists attribute this decline to greater attention paid to young people’s mental health in Europe and more cautious media coverage of suicide.
In 54 high-income countries, the reduction was even more significant: in 1990, the rate stood at 12.68 per 100,000, but by 2021 (during the COVID-19 pandemic) it had decreased by 32.1 percent to 8.61. In low- and middle-income countries, the figure dropped from 7.88 to 5.73.
However, researchers warn that not all cases may have been recorded in some countries, so the numbers should be interpreted carefully, especially in poorer nations.
Projections suggest that by 2050, the global suicide rate may gradually decline to 6.49 cases per 100,000 people.
According to Professor Lasse Zander from the Institute of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology at the University of Freiburg, these trends are consistent with other research findings. Yet he cautioned: “Even with long-term positive changes, we must not forget that the rates are still very high.” He noted that more than 700,000 people die by suicide each year worldwide.
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