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Afghanistan

Suicide Prevention Crisis Lines

  1. Primary Crisis Hotline:
    • Phone Number: 800-615-6514
    • Hours of Operation: 24/7
    • Additional Details: Offers support in English, Dari, and Pashto for Afghans and service providers seeking counseling and critical support (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2023).
Suicide Prevention in Afghanistan

Epidemiology of Suicide

Overall Statistics

  • Current Suicide Rate (per 100,000 people): 4.1 (World Bank, 2019).
  • Trend Analysis:
    • Last 5 Years: Data is limited, but reports suggest an increasing trend, particularly among women.
    • Recent Changes: Recent reports indicate a surge in suicide and suicidal tendencies among women, attributed to deteriorating mental health conditions (KabulNow, 2024).

Demographic-Specific Insights

  1. By Gender:
    • Notable Trends: Approximately 80% of suicide attempts in Afghanistan are by women, a reversal of global trends where men typically have higher suicide rates (Wilson Center, 2023).

Suicide Prevention Innovations

National Strategies and Policies

  • Overview: Afghanistan lacks a comprehensive national suicide prevention framework. Efforts are primarily led by non-governmental organizations and international bodies.

Specific Initiatives and Campaigns

  1. Public Awareness Campaigns:
    • The Youth Health Line (YHL) in Kabul provides a platform for young individuals to discuss mental health issues and seek support (ReliefWeb, 2023).
  1. Programs Targeting High-Risk Groups:
    • Action Against Hunger launched a mental health hotline offering immediate support to those in distress (Action Against Hunger, 2023).
  1. Collaborative Efforts:
    • Various NGOs collaborate to provide mental health services, though challenges persist due to cultural stigmas and limited resources.

Additional Insights

  • Cultural Considerations:
    • Suicide is heavily stigmatized in Afghan society and considered haram (forbidden) in Islam, the predominant religion in Afghanistan (Wikipedia, 2023).
  • Research and Data Gaps:
    • There is a significant lack of comprehensive data on suicide rates and mental health in Afghanistan, hindering effective intervention planning.
  • Positive Developments:
    • The establishment of crisis hotlines and mental health support services marks a positive step toward addressing mental health issues in the country.

References

  • Action Against Hunger, 2023. Treating Afghanistan’s Invisible Mental Health Crisis. Available at: https://actionagainsthunger.org/story/treating-afghanistans-invisible-mental-health-crisis/
  • KabulNow, 2024. Rising Suicide Rate Among Women Lay Bare the Impact of Taliban’s Oppression. Available at: https://kabulnow.com/2024/11/rising-suicide-rate-among-women-lay-bare-the-impact-of-talibans-oppression/
  • ReliefWeb, 2023. Afghanistan: The hotline that saves lives. Available at: https://reliefweb.int/report/afghanistan/afghanistan-hotline-saves-lives
  • S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2023. Immediate Afghan Behavioral Health Support: Call 800-615-6514. Available at: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/node/28380
  • Wikipedia, 2023. Suicide in Afghanistan. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_in_Afghanistan
  • Wilson Center, 2023. Women and Suicide in Afghanistan. Available at: https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/women-and-suicide-afghanistan
  • World Bank, 2019. Suicide Mortality Rate (per 100,000 Population) – Afghanistan. Available at: https://tradingeconomics.com/afghanistan/suicide-mortality-rate-per-100000-population-wb-data.html