Suicide by pesticide: One of the globally leading causes of suicide in agricultural areas

Bad news! Why are not more countries banning or restricting the use of  dangerous pesticides?

"Curbing Pesticides to Save Lives

Suriname has one of the world's highest suicide rates, largely due to the pesticide paraquat—which is lethal even in tiny doses and is widely available in homes across the country. 

Global perspective: Pesticides are one of the leading means of suicide in agricultural areas of developing nations, leading to 100,000+ suicides annually. 

Banning paraquat and other pesticides has led to dramatic drops in suicide rates in other countries including Sri Lanka (70%+), South Korea (~50%), and China (60%). 

Ongoing efforts: The charity Open Philanthropy funded the launch in 2017 of the Centre for Pesticide Suicide Prevention, and the [UNEP] Global Alliance on Highly Hazardous Pesticides was formed in 2023 to phase out use of the deadliest pesticides in agricultural areas where risks have not been managed."

"... Developed by the chemical company Syngenta, paraquat is now banned in the European Union and China, as well as scattered other countries around the world, but it is still in widespread use elsewhere. The United States permits its use in nonresidential settings, requiring that buyers be trained and certified. ..."

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A Killer Within Easy Reach "Pesticides are a leading means of suicide. The tiny nation of Suriname is working to restrict access to one of the most common and dangerous ones."