With one suicide every 40 seconds, WHO urges action The World Health Organization says that nearly 800,000 people commit suicide each year -- more than those killed by war and homicide or breast cancer, urging action to avert the tragedies. The UN health agency says that the global suicide rate had fallen somewhat between 2010 and 2016, but the number of deaths has remained stable because of a growing global population. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES