BBC News (Translated by RAWA), January 28, 2017

700 suicide attempts in 8 months in Afghan province

Mohammad Rafiq Sherzai, the press administrator of the hospital, told BBC that 70% of the victims were women

Self-immolation has been practiced in alarming rate by desperate Afghan women who lack access to justice and protection. (Photo: Paula Bronstein)
More Photos ( http://www.rawa.org/temp/runews/rawagallery.php?mghash=08a1945aa996f137994306011d17afb0&mggal=11 )

Doctors in Herat hospital of Herat province say that 700 suicide attempts have been recorded in this hospital from the beginning of the solar year, and 33 of these have resulted in death. The methods used included hanging, taking poison and self-immolation.

The most recent case was recorded the night before on Friday (27th January) when a 27-year-old hung himself to death.

Family issues, poverty, and drug addiction, were said to be the main causes of these suicide attempts.

Mohammad Rafiq Sherzai, the press administrator of the hospital, told BBC that 70% of the victims were women, “These victims fall into different categories of age and sex and come from different parts of Herat. Of these cases, 70% are women and 30% are men. The victims faced different problems like family issues, financial difficulties, drug addiction, and other mental issues that forced them to commit suicide.”

Mr. Sherzai also said that the cases of suicide attempts have increased by 2% compared to last year. Last year, 500 suicide attempts were recorded in the same time period.

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