50.6% of suicides linked to marriage

KUWAIT CITY, Dec 27: The Public Prosecution recently released the statistics on suicide -- the first of its kind; disclosing that the number of suicide and suicide attempt cases reached 136 in 2022.

According to the statistics, 61.7 percent of those who committed suicide and those who tried to take their own lives last year are males and 38.3 percent are females; while married people were most likely to commit suicide at 50.6 percent; compared to 39.9 percent among single people and 8.2 percent among divorcees. Widows are the least likely to commit suicide at 1.3 percent.

In a digital bulletin uploaded on the official Instagram of the prosecution, it is stated that based on the nationalities of those who committed and attempted to commit suicide; Indians topped the list with 33.9 percent, followed by Kuwaitis with 20 percent, Filipinos ranked third with 8.8 percent, Nepalese ranked fourth with 8 percent; while the Egyptians and Sri Lankans ranked eighth with 4.4 percent and then Bedouns with 2.9 percent.

Based on the governorates, Ahmadi Governorate ranked first with 27.3 percent of the total suicide cases and Mahboula recorded the highest rate in the governorate, while the Capital Governorate ranked last with percent Kaifan had the highest number of suicide cases in this governorate.

On the age group, the highest was among those aged 26 to 35 years at 40.5 percent; while the lowest are those aged 60 and above at 2.2 percent.

On the nature of jobs, the highest was domestic workers with 32.1 percent, followed by those engaged in craft professions with 14.2 percent.

Moreover, 25 percent of the cases were caused by family problems while emotional problems accounted for 1.4 percent; and 81.3 percent of the cases occurred in private homes while 2.25 percent on public bridges, roads and streets.

Meanwhile, a reliable source told the daily that the statistical study was conducted under the supervision of Public Prosecutor Saad Al-Safran. The source added that the prosecution carried out the statistics for the first time in order to determine the causes of suicide and address the issue, instead of just limiting themselves to investigations.

By Jaber Al-Hamoud
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff