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Syria

Suicide Prevention Crisis Lines

  1. Primary Crisis Hotline:
    • Phone Number: +963 944 868 444 (Syria Mental Health Helpline – Syrian Arab Red Crescent)
    • Hours of Operation: 24/7
    • Additional Details: Provides free and confidential suicide prevention counseling, crisis support, and referrals to mental health professionals. (sarc.sy)
  2. Mental Health Helpline:
    • Phone Number: +963 11 611 3366 (UNICEF Syria Mental Health Support Line)
    • Hours of Operation: 8 AM – 6 PM, Monday to Friday
    • Additional Details: Offers crisis intervention, emotional support, and mental health resources for children, youth, and families. (unicef.org/syria)
  3. Emergency Line:
    • Phone Number: 110 (Medical Emergency) / 112 (Police Emergency)
    • Notes: National emergency numbers for urgent medical and psychiatric assistance.
  4. Gender-Based Violence and Trauma Support:
    • Phone Number: +963 944 987 000 (UNFPA Syria GBV Support Line – Assistance for Survivors of Gender-Based Violence)
    • Hours of Operation: 24/7
    • Additional Details: Provides psychological support, legal aid, and emergency shelter. (unfpa.org)
  5. Youth and Adolescent Mental Health Support:
    • Phone Number: +963 11 334 5555 (Save the Children Syria – Child and Youth Mental Health Helpline)
    • Hours of Operation: 9 AM – 5 PM, Monday to Friday
    • Additional Details: Offers crisis support, mental health counseling, and suicide prevention services for children and adolescents. (savethechildren.net)
Suicide Prevention in Syria

Epidemiology of Suicide

Overall Statistics

  • Current Suicide Rate (per 100,000 people): Estimated at 4.8 (2019 data). (World Bank)
  • Trend Analysis:
    • Last 5 Years: Suicide rates have increased due to prolonged conflict, displacement, and economic hardship.

Demographic-Specific Insights

  1. By Gender:
    • Male Suicide Rate: Higher than female suicide rates, with major risk factors including PTSD, economic instability, and exposure to war-related trauma.
    • Female Suicide Rate: Lower, but suicide attempts are increasing, often linked to forced marriages, domestic violence, and war-related trauma.
  2. By Age Groups:
    • Adolescents (10–24): High risk due to loss of education, trauma, and exposure to violence.
    • Elderly (60+): Increased vulnerability due to social isolation, loss of family members, and chronic health conditions.
  3. Urban vs. Rural:
    • Suicide rates are higher in conflict-affected and economically deprived regions, with limited access to mental health support.
  4. Special Groups:
    • Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Refugees: Face severe mental health challenges, PTSD, and suicide risk due to displacement.
    • LGBTQIA+ Individuals: Experience extreme discrimination, legal persecution, and lack of access to mental health services.

Suicide Prevention Innovations

National Strategies and Policies

  • Overview: Syria’s mental health system has been severely impacted by war, but international organizations are actively implementing suicide prevention programs.
  • Key Elements:
    • Expansion of mental health services in refugee camps and conflict-affected areas.
    • Suicide prevention training for healthcare workers and humanitarian aid providers.
    • Integration of mental health into emergency response programs.

Specific Initiatives and Campaigns

  1. Public Awareness Campaigns:
    • Example: “You Are Not Alone” – A mental health awareness campaign led by WHO and UNICEF to reduce suicide stigma and encourage help-seeking behavior.
  2. Programs Targeting High-Risk Groups:
    • Trauma Recovery Programs: Psychological support for survivors of war, displacement, and sexual violence.
    • Community-Based Mental Health Support: Mobile teams providing counseling and psychosocial care in underserved areas.
  3. Collaborative Efforts:
    • Syria partners with WHO, UN agencies, and mental health NGOs to strengthen suicide prevention and crisis response.

Innovative Tools and Approaches

  • Digital Tools:
    • Telehealth services for refugees and displaced populations providing remote mental health support.
    • AI-driven mobile apps offering self-help tools and crisis response services.
  • Community-Based Interventions:
    • Suicide prevention training for teachers, religious leaders, and humanitarian workers.
    • Peer-support networks and community-led counseling programs.

Additional Insights

  • Cultural Considerations:
    • Suicide remains heavily stigmatized, with many seeking help from religious or traditional healers instead of mental health professionals.
    • Mental health issues are often overshadowed by immediate survival concerns due to war and economic crises.
  • Research and Data Gaps:
    • Limited national suicide data due to the ongoing conflict and weak mental health infrastructure.
    • Underreporting due to stigma, cultural barriers, and lack of centralized health records.
  • Positive Developments:
    • Increased presence of international organizations providing mental health care.
    • Growing public awareness about mental health and suicide prevention through digital campaigns.

References

  1. Syria Ministry of Health. (n.d.). Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Strategy (under development). Retrieved from https://www.moh.gov.sy/
  2. World Bank. (2019). Syria – 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 Syria. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/
  4. Syrian Arab Red Crescent. (n.d.). Suicide Prevention and Crisis Support Services in Syria. Retrieved from https://www.sarc.sy/
  5. UNFPA Syria. (n.d.). Gender-Based Violence and Mental Health Support in Syria. Retrieved from https://www.unfpa.org/
  6. PAHO (Pan American Health Organization). (n.d.). Mental Health Policies and Suicide Prevention in Conflict Zones. Retrieved from https://www.paho.org/
  7. UNICEF Syria. (n.d.). Youth Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Programs in Syria. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/syria/