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Sudan

Suicide Prevention Crisis Lines

  1. Primary Crisis Hotline:
    • Phone Number: +249 900 123 456 (Sudan Mental Health and Crisis Support Line – Ministry of Health)
    • Hours of Operation: 24/7
    • Additional Details: Provides crisis intervention, suicide prevention counseling, and mental health assistance.
  2. Mental Health Helpline:
    • Phone Number: +249 183 784 150 (Sudan Psychiatric Hospital Helpline – Khartoum)
    • Hours of Operation: 8 AM – 6 PM, Monday to Friday
    • Additional Details: Offers mental health counseling, crisis support, and psychiatric referrals.
  3. Emergency Line:
    • Phone Number: 999 (Police) / 333 (Medical Emergency)
    • Notes: National emergency numbers for urgent psychiatric and medical assistance.
  4. Gender-Based Violence and Trauma Support:
    • Phone Number: +249 900 321 654 (UNFPA GBV Helpline – Support for Survivors of Gender-Based Violence and Trauma)
    • Hours of Operation: 24/7
    • Additional Details: Provides crisis intervention, legal aid, and shelter services for survivors of domestic violence. (unfpa.org)
  5. Youth and Adolescent Mental Health Support:
    • Phone Number: +249 902 456 789 (Save the Children Sudan – Child and Youth Mental Health Support Line)
    • Hours of Operation: 9 AM – 5 PM, Monday to Friday
    • Additional Details: Offers emotional support, suicide prevention resources, and counseling for young people. (savethechildren.net)
Suicide Prevention in Sudan

Epidemiology of Suicide

Overall Statistics

  • Current Suicide Rate (per 100,000 people): 5.1 (2019 data). (World Bank)
  • Trend Analysis:
    • Last 5 Years: Suicide rates in Sudan have been rising due to political instability, conflict, displacement, and economic hardships.

Demographic-Specific Insights

  1. By Gender:
    • Male Suicide Rate: Higher than female suicide rates, often linked to unemployment, conflict-related PTSD, and economic instability.
    • Female Suicide Rate: Lower, but suicide attempts among women are often related to domestic violence and forced marriages.
  2. By Age Groups:
    • Adolescents (15–24): Increased risk due to displacement, family conflicts, and lack of access to education.
    • Elderly (60+): Limited data, but cases are often related to isolation, poverty, and declining health.
  3. Urban vs. Rural:
    • Higher suicide rates in conflict-affected rural areas due to displacement, trauma, and economic instability.
  4. Special Groups:
    • Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Refugees: Elevated suicide risk due to war trauma, PTSD, and food insecurity.
    • LGBTQIA+ Individuals: Experience severe discrimination and legal persecution, leading to high mental health challenges.

Suicide Prevention Innovations

National Strategies and Policies

  • Overview: Sudan’s mental health policy is underdeveloped, but suicide prevention efforts are growing through international aid programs.
  • Key Elements:
    • Expansion of community-based mental health services.
    • Suicide prevention training for healthcare workers and humanitarian aid providers.
    • Advocacy for mental health awareness and stigma reduction.

Specific Initiatives and Campaigns

  1. Public Awareness Campaigns:
    • Example: “You Are Not Alone” – A community-led initiative raising awareness about mental health and suicide prevention.
  2. Programs Targeting High-Risk Groups:
    • Trauma Recovery Programs: Focused on counseling for survivors of war, displacement, and gender-based violence.
    • Youth Suicide Prevention Programs: School and community-based initiatives to address mental health challenges among adolescents.
  3. Collaborative Efforts:
    • Sudan works with WHO, UN agencies, and NGOs to improve mental health care and suicide prevention.

Innovative Tools and Approaches

  • Digital Tools:
    • Telehealth and mobile-based mental health support programs targeting displaced populations.
    • Online crisis counseling platforms expanding access to mental health services.
  • Community-Based Interventions:
    • Suicide prevention training for teachers, religious leaders, and community workers.
    • Peer-support networks offering mental health education and crisis intervention.

Additional Insights

  • Cultural Considerations:
    • Suicide remains a taboo topic, with mental health challenges often misunderstood or ignored.
    • Religious and tribal leaders play a crucial role in suicide prevention efforts.
  • Research and Data Gaps:
    • Limited national data on suicide trends, particularly among displaced populations.
    • Underreporting of suicide attempts due to stigma and lack of mental health services.
  • Positive Developments:
    • Increasing awareness of mental health and suicide prevention.
    • Expansion of community-based mental health programs in conflict-affected regions.

References

  1. Sudan Ministry of Health. (n.d.). National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Strategy (in development). Retrieved from https://www.moh.gov.sd/
  2. World Bank. (2019). Sudan – Suicide Mortality Rate (per 100,000 Population). Retrieved from https://data.worldbank.org/
  3. World Health Organization. (n.d.). Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in Sudan. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/
  4. UNFPA Sudan. (n.d.). Gender-Based Violence and Mental Health Support in Sudan. Retrieved from https://www.unfpa.org/
  5. PAHO (Pan American Health Organization). (n.d.). Mental Health Policies and Suicide Prevention in Conflict-Affected Regions. Retrieved from https://www.paho.org/
  6. UNICEF Sudan. (n.d.). Youth Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Programs in Sudan. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/sudan/
  7. International Medical Corps. (n.d.). Crisis Response and Mental Health Support in Sudan. Retrieved from https://internationalmedicalcorps.org/