Iraq records 617 suicide cases in first half of 2026, ministry says

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Ministry of Interior recorded 617 suicide cases during the first half of 2026, the ministry said, urging media, society and state institutions to address the phenomenon jointly. The ministry stressed that prevention requires attention to health, social and educational dimensions alongside security concerns. Sarmed Saeed al-Bedri, head of the media and relations department at Iraq's High Commission for Human Rights, said the cases share common factors including psychological disorders, economic hardship, unemployment and domestic violence. The commission described suicide as a violation of the right to life and said some recorded cases may be concealed killings that require clarification by forensic experts. The National Suicide Prevention Strategy for 2023-2030, prepared under the coordination of the Ministry of Health, targets a 10 percent annual reduction in cases. It covers early intervention, psychological counseling, expanded religious instruction in schools and measures against digital extortion. Social researcher Dr. Shaza Qasim called for mandatory mental health classes in schools, noting the decisive impact of family relationships on young people's psychological well-being. In Nineveh province, suicide cases have risen noticeably this year, with researchers saying the phenomenon has deepened among young people of different age groups amid accumulated psychological, economic and social pressures.