WHO estimates that one person commits suicide every 40 seconds

An extremely sad report from the World Health Organization estimates that one person globally commits suicide every 40 seconds.

The report is the U.N.'s "first comprehensive report on global suicide trends," Al Jazeera reports, and the report shows that countries with higher incomes have slightly higher suicide rates than those with lower incomes. Higher-income countries saw 12.7 suicides per 100,000 people, compared with 11.2 suicides per 100,000 people in lower- and middle-income countries.

The WHO estimates that more than 800,000 people commit suicide each year, and the WHO called suicide prevention a "global imperative." The report comes from 10 years of data, taken from 172 countries.

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"Every suicide is a tragedy," Margaret Chan, the WHO chief, said in a statement. ""The impact on families, friends, and communities is devastating and far-reaching, even long after persons dear to them have taken their own lives."

If you or someone you know may be at risk of suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.