Marrakesh- The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first report on suicide prevention, covering the years 2000 to 2012. According to the report, over 800,000 die due to suicide every year, and it is the second leading cause of death in 15-29 years old.
For each adult who kills themselves, there are an estimated 20 who try and fail. The report says that restricting access to the means of suicide, such as firearms, pesticides, and medications may work in its prevention. Some suicides involve jumping off high places; bridges in the USA have recently started to install anti-suicide nets and restricting access to the bridges. Suicide prevention must be part of health care service, and removing the stigma of suicide and its criminalization may help as well. Support services like the Samaritan telephone service in the UK can also help to turn people away from suicide. Treatment for depression is also needed.
The global financial crisis and debt problems have been the cause of a surge in suicides in the developed world. The report notes an estimated increase of 1,648 cases in Morocco in 2012, including 1,430 men and 198 women. The report suggests that there were 5-10 suicides per 100,000 in the population, with the majority by men, but exact figures are not available.
One can determine that factors like high unemployment for the young urban population can affect youth suicides. There have been incidences of young people setting themselves on fire as protest against unemployment: many have occurred in Tunisia, where the impoverished and neglected industrial areas of Sidi Bouzid, Silania, Gabes, and Gafsa saw large numbers of suicides and immolations. There has been no declared list for the number of suicides.
The number of unemployed in Tunisia reached over 700,000 for a population of just over 10 million. Local reports of suicides amongst young people protesting against unemployment have been widely reported in Algeria. There, the hydrocarbon industry does not provide enough jobs. Riots in 2011 and 2013 against unemployment in Rafla, Ghardia, and other towns in the region were widespread. It is likely that the suicide rate amongst young workers is far higher than in Morocco, but the figures do not exist to prove this.
The WHO report also mentions suicide in the elder generation over 60, and one can cite lack of pensions as being a prime reason for this as well as poor hospital services and lack of medical insurance.
Suicide is a global problem with some regions being affected more than others. Factors like family support are important. The Maghreb suffers from high levels of youth unemployment, which governments are trying to reverse, but this is not easy given the global economic situation. High levels of income disparity and poverty can cause despair for young people without an education, which can lead to suicide attempts.