Diyala records 38 suicides since start of 2026, security source says

BAQUBA, Iraq — A security source in Diyala province said 38 suicide cases have been recorded in the province from the beginning of 2026 to early July. The source said the cases were distributed between men and women, and that some of those who died were school students. Methods cited in the cases included firearms, hanging and medication, according to the source. Reported motives included psychological problems, financial crises and economic hardship. Security forces opened investigations into some of the deaths. In one earlier case on the outskirts of Baquba, authorities found that a man had killed his wife and staged the scene as a suicide. The suspect was detained and referred for legal proceedings. Salih Mehdi, director of the Diyala office of the High Commission for Human Rights, said suicide rates among children in the province have risen noticeably since last year. He said around 15 children aged between 9 and 16 had taken their own lives and called for urgent measures to address the situation.