DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sjpms.2025.v12i06.005

Pages: 240-245

Suicide remains a major global public health challenge, claiming approximately 800,000 lives annually and representing the leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults worldwide. This study conducts a statistical analysis of suicide rates across six World Health Organization (WHO) regions—Africa, America, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, South-East Asia, and Western Pacific—over a period spanning from 1978 to 2009. The aim is to identify significant regional differences in suicide rates and evaluate gender disparities in suicide prevalence. Using secondary data sourced from the International Journal of Environmental Research (2012), the study applies descriptive statistics, One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), post hoc Tukey HSD tests, and independent samples t-tests to examine patterns and test hypotheses. Findings reveal that the Western Pacific and European regions exhibit significantly higher suicide rates compared to other regions, while the Eastern Mediterranean region reports the lowest. Gender analysis confirms that males are disproportionately affected, with a significantly higher mean suicide rate than females across all regions. Assumption tests validate the robustness of the statistical methods used. The study concludes that both geographical location and gender are critical determinants in suicide incidence, calling for region-specific and gender-sensitive prevention strategies. Recommendations include expanding mental health infrastructure, improving data collection practices, restricting access to lethal means, and integrating suicide prevention into national health policies. The research contributes to the global dialogue on mental health and supports the WHO’s objective to reduce suicide rates by one-third under the Sustainable Development Goals.