India, Sept. 11 -- More than 720,000 people commit suicide every year and many more attempt it. Now the head of the UN's World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for "shifting the narrative" on the issue "to challenge harmful myths, reduce stigma and foster compassionate conversations."

Speaking on World Suicide Prevention Day, which is marked annually on 10 September, WHO's Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that "each life lost leaves a profound impact on families, friends, colleagues and entire communities."

All age groups are affected by suicide and was the third leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds globally in 2021, the last year for which data has been gathered by WHO.

Suicide does not just occur in high-income countries a...