TY - JOUR
T1 - Situation Analysis of Suicide and Self-Harm in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region
AU - Erlangsen, Annette
AU - Khan, Murad
AU - Su, Wen
AU - Alateeq, Khawlah
AU - Charfi, Fatma
AU - Madsen, Trine
AU - Qin, Ping
AU - Morthorst, Britt Reuter
AU - Thomsen, Morten
AU - Malik, Aiysha
AU - Bandara, Piumee
AU - Fleischmann, Alexandra
AU - Saeed, Khalid
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - OBJECTIVE: An estimated 41,000 lives are lost to suicide each year in World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region Office (WHO EMRO) countries. The objective of this study was to conduct a situation analysis for suicide and self-harm in the WHO EMRO region.METHODS: Data on suicide were obtained from the WHO Global Health Estimates for the years 2000-2019. Information on risk groups efforts to prevent self-harm and suicide in the EMRO region were retrieved through scientific studies, grey literature, and public websites.RESULTS: During 2000-2019, the age-standardized suicide rate was 6.7 per 100,000 inhabitants, albeit there are concerns regarding data quality. Self-harm and suicide remain criminal acts in more than half of the countries. Few countries have a national plan for prevention of suicide. Toxic agents, such as pesticides and black henna, are easily available and frequently used for suicide in some areas, as are firearms and self-immolation. Successful prevention measures include means restriction and psychosocial interventions after self-harm.CONCLUSION: Many WHO EMRO countries remain underserved in terms of mental health care. Decriminalization of suicide and means restriction might be further promoted. Online-based tools for mental health literacy and psychosocial therapy are other options to explore.
AB - OBJECTIVE: An estimated 41,000 lives are lost to suicide each year in World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region Office (WHO EMRO) countries. The objective of this study was to conduct a situation analysis for suicide and self-harm in the WHO EMRO region.METHODS: Data on suicide were obtained from the WHO Global Health Estimates for the years 2000-2019. Information on risk groups efforts to prevent self-harm and suicide in the EMRO region were retrieved through scientific studies, grey literature, and public websites.RESULTS: During 2000-2019, the age-standardized suicide rate was 6.7 per 100,000 inhabitants, albeit there are concerns regarding data quality. Self-harm and suicide remain criminal acts in more than half of the countries. Few countries have a national plan for prevention of suicide. Toxic agents, such as pesticides and black henna, are easily available and frequently used for suicide in some areas, as are firearms and self-immolation. Successful prevention measures include means restriction and psychosocial interventions after self-harm.CONCLUSION: Many WHO EMRO countries remain underserved in terms of mental health care. Decriminalization of suicide and means restriction might be further promoted. Online-based tools for mental health literacy and psychosocial therapy are other options to explore.
KW - Adolescent
KW - Adult
KW - Female
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Mediterranean Region/epidemiology
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Risk Factors
KW - Self-Injurious Behavior/epidemiology
KW - Suicide Prevention
KW - Suicide/statistics & numerical data
KW - World Health Organization
KW - Young Adult
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85174192106&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/13811118.2023.2262532
DO - 10.1080/13811118.2023.2262532
M3 - Review
C2 - 37837375
SN - 1381-1118
VL - 28
SP - 760
EP - 778
JO - Archives of suicide research : official journal of the International Academy for Suicide Research
JF - Archives of suicide research : official journal of the International Academy for Suicide Research
IS - 3
ER -