Suicide does not take place suddenly and there are clear indicators that can help in prevention, speakers said at a forum in Doha yesterday.
The Social Rehabilitation Centre (SRC) organised the forum to mark World Suicide Prevention Day, observed on September 10.
Dr Mohamed Abdullaleem Ibrahim, deputy director of SRC, said suicidal behaviour was complicated and could be instant or gradual.
A suicide attempt should be considered as a shout for help and must be taken seriously, he added.
He said Scandinavian countries had the highest rate of suicide, followed by Germany, France, Japan and India. Seclusion and social alienation were among the principal causes.
Dr Ahmed Abdulkadir al-Ferjabi, an expert at the Ministry of Awqaf, stressed the importance of religious values in promoting happiness and fulfilment. He said one should also avoid seclusion and engage with the community
Dr Suhaila Ghaloum, a consultant psychiatrist, said that worldwide, a suicide occurred every 40 seconds and the rate was highest among single young people, victims of sexual abuse, the unemployed and the mentally ill.
She said there was a lack of accurate records of suicides in Qatar, and pointed out that until 2010 there was not a single recorded case of a Qatari committing suicide. The highest rate was among Nepali construction workers.
Dr Sharifa al-Emadi, counselling and psychological services director at SRC, stressed the importance of emotional support especially for teenagers.
Dr Mamoun Mobayed, consultant psychiatrist and director of study and research at SRC, discussed myths about suicide such as the idea that those who talk about taking their lives would not actually do so or that suicide cannot be prevented.
Gulf Times
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