Under the looming shadow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the ever deteriorating social and living conditions that many find hopeless, the number of suicide cases in Syria has significantly increased.
Dr. Zahir Hajjo, director of the General Authority of Forensic Medicine, revealed to Radio Sham FM that the suicide rate has seen an increase. “Up until November 15, 172 cases had been reported, 123 of them male and 49 females.
“Most suicides occur in Aleppo, compared to any other governorate, with 30 cases, followed by Lattakia with 29 cases, and 27 in Damascus.”
According to Hajjo, the majority of cases were caused by economic conditions, emotional breakdowns, and the loss of loved ones.
The means of suicide differ, with 74 cases of suicide by hanging, followed by 36 cases by gunfire, and 33 attempted suicide by poisoning, with 22 dying.
With the difficult and tragic conditions that the Syrian people has lived, and the trauma of war, displacement, torture and death all around them, the sense of despair has consumed many among them. This calls for immediate action by humanitarian and medical organizations to raise awareness regarding mental illness and attempt to help those who need it the most.
Zaman Al Wasl
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