A Suicide Prevention Initiative Has Been Launched

Kuwait's suicide rate has been rising for the last few years. The most recent statistics show that it has risen by 50 percent since 2020. In the first 75 days of the year, 25 people committed suicide according to data collected by the ministries of health and interior. The data points to the increasing trend among some sections of the population to end their lives prematurely.

The data on suicides in the country from 2022 to 15 March paints an alarming picture - 80 percent of them were men, Asians made up the majority, and Indians made up 60%. The suicide rate among nationals was 8%.

In addition to this, the number of young people who kill themselves is on the rise. In the review period in question, 60 percent of suicides occurred among young people aged 19 to 35; those aged 36 to 65 made up 36 percent of those committing suicide.

Social workers, civil society organizations and health officials are increasingly worried about the high suicide rate in the country. Kuwait Sociologists Association has launched its 'Your life is dear - Suicides, Challenges, and Treatments' awareness-raising campaign in a belated move but nonetheless welcome one.

Located under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Interior, the campaign aims at raising awareness about rising suicidal tendencies and discussing the reasons for the increase in suicides among teenagers in Kuwait, in particular during the Corona pandemic.

In an effort backed by psychologists and other specialists, the initiative provides psychological and social support as well as ongoing activities to reduce and eliminate suicide tendencies among citizens and residents.

"Suicide is a serious global public health problem. Approximately 800,000 people die prematurely each year as a result of suicide, mainly people between 15 and 29 years old, and the elderly," said Dr. Wafa Al-Arada, head of the Preventive Psychological Committee. Despite the fact that suicide is also the second leading cause of death worldwide, in Kuwait it is treated as a problem requiring solution, rather than a phenomenon.

Mubarak Al-Kabeer Security's Director-General for Security, Brigadier Mubarak Marji, said, "In our society, security and safety are integral to our everyday lives, including the safety of lives, the tranquility of the souls, and the integrity of conduct.“Life is a precious gift from God, and therefore should be valued and protected, and the phenomenon of suicide, which is becoming more common, threatens this gift, and therefore should be addressed.”

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