Tehran, Iran, May 9
By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:
Suicides carried out in crowded areas hold an element of protest and their number is expected to rise in the future, said Suicide Prevention Association of Iran's Chairman Kazem Malekuti.
He pointed to emotional depression as one of the major causes behind suicide, adding the emotional disorder has been on the rise in Iran over the past decade, ILNA news agency reported May 9.
Various causes from political to economic, cultural, social, and psychological usually play a role in bringing one to the decision to kill themselves, he said and pointed out that researches have shown depression can increase suicide odds six-fold.
In recent years Iranians especially in big urban areas have from time to time witnessed people attempt suicide in public areas by throwing themselves before subway trains, hanging themselves, or jumping off bridges.
Malekuti underlined unemployment as a major contributor to suicide, pointing out however that preventive programs in a number of less-developed cities across Iran have proven helpful.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has proposed that by 2020 suicide around the world should diminish by 10 percent.
The WHO's 2012 report puts Iran at the 120th place in world suicide ranking.
In early May an Iranian man attempted suicide after being unable to pay for his treatment at a Tehran hospital. Ali Shafie began experiencing extreme pain in his stomach and sought help at Milad Hospital. Shafie was refused treatment after being told his insurance booklet had expired and he was unable to pay the three million rial ($95) fee.
Shafie's pain was so severe he threw himself off the third floor of the hospital and went into a coma.