MONITTORING (SW) – The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for dismantling barriers to suicide prevention, raising awareness, and fostering supportive cultures.
In connection with the World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September, the WHO reported that over 7,00,000 people commit suicide every year across the world. It is the third leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds globally.
It is important to bring attention to the rising number of suicide cases across the world, the WHO report on Monday, added.
Every year, the “World Suicide Prevention Day” is observed to spread awareness about suicide prevention, reduce stigma and help people.
The theme of World Suicide Prevention Day 2024-2026 is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide” with the call to action “Start the Conversation”.
The theme aims to raise awareness about reducing stigma and encourage open conversations to prevent suicides.
According to WHO, “Changing the narrative on suicide is about transforming how we perceive this complex issue and shifting from a culture of silence and stigma to one of openness, understanding, and support.”
Earlier this year, Salam Watandar’s investigations into a number of murder and suicide cases of women in Afghanistan reveal a concerning trend of escalating violence against them in recent years leading to women’s suicide.
Salam Watandar documented 16 suicide incidents occurred in six months in 2024.
Various reasons such as domestic violence, poverty, forced marriage, mental disorders and sexual assault caused the suicides while the reason for some cases remain unknown.
Psychologists and sociologists also consider the restrictions imposed on women and the closure of schools and universities to girls as major reasons for the rise in female suicide cases. They say that the level of despair among women has led to an increase in female suicides.
Zia Nikzad, a sociologist, discusses the reasons behind the increase in female suicide rates: “The restrictions imposed on women in Afghanistan by the Islamic Emirate could be influential; many women had hoped that they could play an active role in social, political, and cultural activities. Each of these girls had woven dreams for the future.”
Kokaba Nawab, a psychologist, also said: “When a person’s hopes for life are extinguished and they think that they can no longer continue their life, their hopes have ended, and their dreams are buried.”
