WHO Report: Morocco Ranks 110th Globally in Suicide Rates, US 31st

Morocco is ranked 110th out of 183 countries, while the United States, which records a suicide every 20 minutes, is in 31st place, France in 75th place, Spain in 137th place and the United Kingdom in 116th place. Lesotho, a poor African country, tops the list with a suicide rate of 87.5 per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Guyana with a rate of 40.9 per 100,000 inhabitants, reports Daily Mail.

High levels of armed violence and mental illness would explain these high suicide rates in America. In 2021, 55% of all suicide deaths in the United States were caused by firearms. The Covid-19 pandemic, which has seriously affected the mental health of Americans, would also be behind the increase in suicide cases in this country where suicides by firearms have increased from 24,292 to 26,320 between 2020 and 2021, the highest figure in 30 years.

Africa is the continent most affected by this phenomenon, according to the WHO, stating that mental health disorders currently affect 116 million people on the continent, more than double the 1990 figure (53 million). More than 700,000 people worldwide die by suicide each year, considered the fourth leading cause of death among 15-29 year olds. 77% of suicides worldwide occur in low- or middle-income countries, the organization notes.

Barbados closes this ranking with 0.3 suicides per 100,000 inhabitants. The warm climate of the island and its more relaxed lifestyle could promote mental health and explain these low suicide rates. According to the WHO, men are twice as likely to commit suicide as women, and the most important risk factor is a previous attempt, as well as mental disorders and alcohol-related disorders.