Suicide in Iran

Image of Khurshid Spahbed. He, who was the last Spahbed of Dabuyid dynasty in Tabaristan, after losing the war against Arabs in the year 761, committed suicide at the age of 27.

Suicide in Iran is believed to be a growing concern in recent years. Although suicide rate in Iran is less than most European countries, but this country rates the third most committed suicides between the Islamic countries. According to statistics, each day more than 13 people take their lives with suicide in Iran; most of whom are aged 15–35. Some studies also show that in the year 2013, for instance, the average death rate of suicide in Iran was 6 in every 100,000 people.

Economical problems, mental illnesses, cultural compulsories, political issues and social pressures are the major factors of committing suicide in Iran.

Suicide demographics

File:Google search suggestion in Persian.jpg

The first suggestion that the google search suggestion shows by typing the phrase "methods of..." (...روش‌های) in Persian, is "methods of suicide" (روش‌های خودکشی). March 4, 2016.

Women

Iranian women are more vulnerable to suicide than other groups in the society. Actually, in 2007, Iran ranked the third country in which women were outnumbering men in committing suicide.

According to a study published in 2008, women's suicide rate in Iran was double the amount of men by that year. This study also found that Drug overdose is the most popular method of suicide among Iranians; hanging and self-immolation, respectively, are most popular method after drug overdose.

Youths

According to suicide statistics of 2013, which were the most recent until July 2015, 54% of all suicides in Iran were committed by younger people aged under 30.

A longitudinal study done on students from 2003 to 2008, showed that hanging was the most chosen method and wrist cutting was the least chosen method of suicide. According to this study, single male students aged 22 who were studying Humanities in the Islamic Azad University, had committed more suicide than any other group. It has also found out that most of these suicides were committed near the time of the exams and in holidays between semesters.

Another study done on students in the city of Isfahan, published in 2001, showed that the prevalence of Major depression among teenagers was 43.4% and 32.7% of them were literally suicidal. This also showed that those teenagers who described their parents to being over restrictive (nearly 58.3%), had the most amount of suicidal thoughts; in comparison with those who said that their parents behaved in a more democratic manner and less restrictive (nearly 11.6%).

Suicide sites

Main article: List of suicide sites

Tehran Metro

In Iran, like other countries, suicide by train occurs. According to authorities, on average, each month one person kills himself by jumping on Tehran's subway railway. For example, in May 15, 2015, a 35-year-old man after throwing himself under subway train in Moniryeh Station, was injured and brought to hospital. In January 16, 2016, a young lady committed suicide in Darvazeh Dolat Station.

Milad Tower

Jumping from height is also one of the common methods and it has been proven psychologically that incongruous city appearance can cause suicide thoughts in some people. Before the 1979 Revolution of Iran, places like "Pelasko Building" and "The Aluminum Building" in Tehran were among the favorite sites of suicide by jumping and it has been said that some famous Iranian people like Sadeq Hedayat and Nosrat Rahmani intended to jump from these buildings. After the revolution, Milad Tower, which became higher than any other building, attracted those who wanted to kill themselves by jumping, to itself. At least 3 successful suicide by jumping from the roof of Milad Tower have been reported. .

See also

• suicide crisis