Suicide in countries and areas of the ESCAP region.

ABSTRACT

"In the ESCAP [Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific] region each year more than half a million people die by suicide and over 5 million attempt to kill themselves. This article collates available evidence about the incidence, age and sex patterns of suicide mortality in selected countries and areas of the region. It discusses cultural and legal attitudes towards suicide, as well as the social and health implications of the problem. It concludes by outlining some of the attempts that could be made at prevention both by governments and civil society."