HERAT CITY (SW): In the last 6 months, about 300 people have attempted to commit suicide in Herat, out of which 10 people lost their lives. This figure reached 700 in 12 months last year, out of which 20 died in attempting suicide.
Mohammad Rafiq Sherzai, the provincial General Hospital spokesman, said the most common ways to commit suicide have been taking poison, hanging and self-burning. He informed that 80 per cent of the victims are women and 20 per cent are men.
Domestic violence, forced and underage marriage, illiteracy, and economic poverty are the main reasons for the high number of suicides in Herat.
Jilani Farhad, the provincial governor’s spokesman, assured that the local administration is launching programs to reduce suicide rates in the province.
Ali Ahmad Kawa, a professor of sociology at the University of Herat, said that on the basis of research, suicides in Herat are due to family problems, unemployment, emotional and love failures, and depression. He suggested reducing unemployment and creating awareness as a solution for reducing the number of suicides in the province.
ENDS
