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Yemen

Suicide Prevention Crisis Lines

  1. Primary Crisis Hotline:
    • Phone Number: No dedicated national suicide prevention hotline is currently available.
    • Alternative Support: Individuals in distress can seek help through international and regional crisis support services such as Befrienders Worldwide or UNHCR-supported mental health programs.
  2. Mental Health Helpline:
    • Phone Number: +967 1 250 600 (Ministry of Public Health and Population – Mental Health Services Helpline)
    • Hours of Operation: 8 AM – 4 PM, Monday to Thursday
    • Additional Details: Provides limited psychological support and psychiatric referrals.
  3. Emergency Line:
    • Phone Number: 194 (Medical Emergency) / 199 (Police Emergency)
    • Notes: Used for urgent medical assistance, though mental health crisis response is limited.
  4. Gender-Based Violence and Trauma Support:
    • Phone Number: +967 777 470 590 (UNFPA Yemen – Gender-Based Violence and Trauma Helpline)
    • Hours of Operation: 24/7
    • Additional Details: Provides crisis counseling, legal aid, and safe spaces for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence. (unfpa.org/yemen)
  5. Youth and Adolescent Mental Health Support:
    • Phone Number: +967 736 660 660 (UNICEF Yemen – Child and Youth Mental Health Helpline)
    • Hours of Operation: 9 AM – 5 PM, Sunday to Thursday
    • Additional Details: Offers suicide prevention support, emotional counseling, and mental health resources for young people. (unicef.org/yemen)
Suicide Prevention in Yemen

Epidemiology of Suicide

Overall Statistics

  • Current Suicide Rate (per 100,000 people): 4.2 (2019 data). (World Bank)
  • Trend Analysis:
    • Last 5 Years: Suicide rates have been rising due to prolonged conflict, economic instability, and the humanitarian crisis.

Demographic-Specific Insights

  1. By Gender:
    • Male Suicide Rate: Higher than female suicide rates, often linked to unemployment, PTSD from conflict, and economic distress.
    • Female Suicide Rate: Increasing, particularly among women experiencing forced marriage, gender-based violence, and mental health struggles.
  2. By Age Groups:
    • Adolescents (10–24): Rising suicide rates due to child marriage, exposure to war, and lack of educational and economic opportunities.
    • Elderly (60+): Increased suicide risk due to poverty, displacement, and loss of family members.
  3. Urban vs. Rural:
    • Suicide rates are higher in conflict-affected urban areas like Sana’a and Aden.
    • Rural communities report cases, but stigma and lack of mental health infrastructure contribute to underreporting.
  4. Special Groups:
    • Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs): High suicide risk due to displacement, loss of livelihood, and exposure to trauma.
    • LGBTQIA+ Individuals: Extremely high mental health risk due to criminalization and severe societal discrimination.
    • Former Child Soldiers: Significant suicide risk due to PTSD, lack of rehabilitation programs, and reintegration challenges.

Suicide Prevention Innovations

National Strategies and Policies

  • Overview: Yemen does not have a formal National Suicide Prevention Strategy, but international organizations have integrated suicide prevention into broader humanitarian and mental health efforts.
  • Key Elements:
    • Expanding mental health support for conflict-affected populations.
    • Strengthening community-based psychosocial support programs.
    • Enhancing training for healthcare workers in suicide prevention.

Specific Initiatives and Campaigns

  1. Public Awareness Campaigns:
    • Example: “Hope Amidst Crisis” – A UN-backed initiative raising awareness of mental health and suicide prevention in conflict zones.
  2. Programs Targeting High-Risk Groups:
    • Mental Health Support for Displaced Families: Psychological first aid provided in refugee camps and temporary shelters.
    • Rehabilitation Programs for War-Affected Youth: Training and psychosocial support for former child soldiers and conflict survivors.
  3. Collaborative Efforts:
    • Yemen works with WHO, UNICEF, and mental health NGOs to improve access to psychiatric care and suicide prevention services.

Innovative Tools and Approaches

  • Digital Tools:
    • Mobile mental health apps and SMS-based counseling services developed for conflict zones.
    • AI-driven suicide risk detection tools being piloted in humanitarian programs.
  • Community-Based Interventions:
    • Training religious leaders and educators in suicide prevention and trauma-informed care.
    • Peer-support groups offering emotional support and crisis intervention.

Additional Insights

  • Cultural Considerations:
    • Mental health issues and suicide remain deeply stigmatized, leading to underreporting and lack of support for at-risk individuals.
    • Religious and tribal leaders play a crucial role in shaping attitudes toward mental health care.
  • Research and Data Gaps:
    • Limited national suicide statistics due to conflict and underreporting.
    • Need for more research on suicide risk factors among displaced and war-affected populations.
  • Positive Developments:
    • Growing recognition of mental health as a humanitarian priority.
    • Expansion of international aid programs offering suicide prevention and crisis intervention services.

References

  1. Yemen Ministry of Public Health and Population. (n.d.). Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Initiatives in Yemen. Retrieved from https://moh.gov.ye/
  2. World Bank. (2019). Yemen – 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 Yemen. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/
  4. PAHO (Pan American Health Organization). (n.d.). Mental Health Policies and Suicide Prevention in Conflict Zones. Retrieved from https://www.paho.org/
  5. UNICEF Yemen. (n.d.). Youth Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Programs in Yemen. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/yemen/
  6. UNFPA Yemen. (n.d.). Gender-Based Violence and Mental Health Support in Yemen. Retrieved from https://www.unfpa.org/yemen