Despite its “Land of Smiles” moniker, recent data reveals Thailand is nearing the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s alarming threshold of eight suicides per 100,000 people.

Every 40 seconds, someone loses their life to suicide and nearly 800,000 people die due to suicide every year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day, which is being marked today, September 10. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15-29 year-olds after road injury, the WHO said.