After the vice president of the Medical Council of Iran confirmed the deaths of at least 16 medical assistants by suicide in the last ten months, the director of the psychiatry department at the Iranian Legal Medicine Organization also warned that ‘the mental health crisis in the country has sharply escalated.’
Simultaneously, the head of the medical system organization issued a warning regarding the consequences of the suicide crisis within the medical community. This occurred during the meeting of the ‘Working Group investigating the extent and causes of suicide in the medical community and residents.’ He emphasized to the authorities, ‘Hiding the pain does not make the pain go away.’
On January 16, the state-run news agency IRNA reported a 51% increase in suicide attempts in Iran. According to the vice president of the country’s suicide prevention scientific community, ‘Suicide statistics in Iran in 2022 have increased by about 51% compared to 2016.’
This report reveals that in 2016, 79,102 individuals in Iran took their own lives, a number that surged to approximately 120,000 in 2022, officially documented by the Ministry of Health.
Hamid Payravi, Vice President of Iran’s Suicide Prevention Scientific Society, has disclosed that in 2022, a minimum of 6,000 suicides occurred in Iran. Moreover, for each suicide resulting in death, there are approximately 20 to 30 suicide attempts that do not end in fatality.
Research conducted in 2022 indicates that the average rate of suicide leading to death in Iran has risen to ‘7.4 people per 100,000 individuals.’
Contrary to the regime’s state media claims, attributing the spike in suicides primarily to economic problems, it is evident that the regime conceals one of the main causes: an escalation of repression, a loss of hope for a prosperous life, a dearth of basic freedoms, and a society that has relinquished hope in a better future.
Numerous reports suggest a concerning trend in Iran, as the age at which suicides occur has decreased, and the distressing wave of suicides has even reached children. This is a stark contrast to the ’90s when the age group with the highest percentage of total suicides was 18-24 and 25-34 years old, indicating an alarming shift in the dimensions of suicide increase in Iran.
Ali Akbar Bastami, a Member of Parliament in Ilam province, issued a stark warning, stating, “A terrible thing is happening in Ilam province every day – the suicide of young people at a young age.” He identified one of the main reasons for this crisis as “youth unemployment, despite the presence of oil and gas projects in the region.” He further added, “The law and social justice are not observed in the country, and we witness the unemployment of local forces in cities like Mehran, Eyvan, and… despite the existence of these projects.” Expressing desperation, he noted, “Every day, several young people hang themselves due to unemployment.”
However, the widespread dimensions of suicides are not confined to areas like Ilam. Suicides have increased nationwide and across various social spectrums. Since the beginning of this year, the number of suicides among medical assistants has reached 16, with three of them occurring just last week.
According to social research conducted by the regime from 2016 to 2020, it is reported that social capital in Iran has plummeted to its lowest level, contributing to the surge in suicides. The research suggests that the mental health of the country has deteriorated in recent years.
Contrary to the global trend, which has seen a decrease in suicide rates among both women and men over the last two decades, Iran is experiencing a disturbing upward trajectory in suicides. For instance, according to the regime’s media, the average prevalence of suicidal thoughts among Iranian medical students surpasses the global average. While the global rate stands at 1.11%, in Iran, the average prevalence of suicidal thoughts among medical students has surged to 4.24%, nearly four times the global rate.
Factors such as work pressure, the low quality of education, excessive job burnout, prolonged and uninterrupted study periods, and financial constraints contribute to the prevalence of suicidal thoughts among medical assistants. Additionally, the low salary of young medical graduates, ranging between 12 and 13 million tomans per month, fails to cover basic living expenses.
Mohammad Raiszadeh, the head of the Medical Council of Iran, emphasized that “the root cause of all the problems within the medical community stems from the dimming of hope for the future.” He criticized regime officials, stating that “increasing hope for the future will not be achieved through promises alone. The key is to take promising actions in a practical and effective manner, rather than relying on empty slogans.”
Meanwhile, regime authorities not only fail to provide a solution to curb the escalating suicide crisis but also reject allocating funds to institutions or centers tasked with addressing suicide and other similar social issues. According to Hassan Mousavi Chalak, the head of the Iran Association of Social Workers, the regime currently does not prioritize mental and social health.
