根據國際衛生組織(World Health Organization, WHO)統計,全世界每年約有80萬人死於自殺,大約占全部死因的百分之1.5。西元2016年,全世界自殺率為每10萬人有10.6人,其中高達八成發生於每人年均收入中度或偏低的國家。在北美地區,自殺居十大死因的第十位,而在15至24歲年齡層,自殺更高居首位死因。因此,世界衛生組織及各國衛生部門,均積極作自殺防治的研究,制定政策,期望能降低自殺發生率及死亡率。
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