More than one in every 100 deaths worldwide is caused by suicide, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned, calling for urgent action to tackle the growing mental health crisis, particularly among young people.

According to the UN agency’s latest figures, about 727,000 people died by suicide in 2021. While global suicide rates have declined by 35 percent since 2000, experts said progress remains insufficient to meet international targets.

“For every suicide, there are 20 attempts,” said Deborah Castel, acting head of WHO’s Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health Department. “These deaths end lives but also inflict lasting trauma on families, friends and caregivers.”

Leading cause of death among young people

The WHO’s World Mental Health Report found that suicide remains among the top three causes of death for people aged 15 to 29. In 2021, it was the second leading cause of death for young women in that age group, and the third leading cause for young men.

Despite a global reduction, suicide rates in the Americas rose by 17 percent between 2000 and 2021. Nearly three-quarters of suicides occur in low-income countries, yet higher rates relative to population are reported in wealthier nations, where data collection is stronger.

Mental illness on the rise

The report cautions that while suicides are slowly declining, mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety are rising sharply. Between 2011 and 2021, the number of people with mental health conditions grew faster than the global population. Today, more than one billion people worldwide live with mental health disorders.

The WHO identified social media pressures and the Covid-19 pandemic as major drivers of deteriorating mental health among young people.

Funding gaps

The agency criticised governments for stagnant mental health investment, noting that since 2017, only 2 percent of global health budgets have been allocated to mental health. Alarmingly, just 9 percent of people suffering from depression receive treatment, WHO data shows.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described mental health as “the greatest public health challenge of our time,” urging countries to step up resources, prevention, and treatment efforts.