25 May 2006

Suicide rates in Samoa dropped, international report says

8:22 pm on 25 May 2006

An international report shows that suicide rates in Samoa have fallen below the world average.

The news has been welcomed by the local Fa'ataua le Ola, or Save Life, organization which was established in 2000 to help address Samoa's suicide rate.

The report says that like many countries in the world, Samoa has had to battle with unacceptably high suicide rates.

The increase since 1979 through 1981 took the rate in the country well above the global average as reported by the World Health Organisation.

Fa'ataua le Ola has confirmed that last year Samoa's suicide rate was one fifth of the previously highest figure.