In 2023, 168 suicides were reported in Lebanon, compared with 138 in 2022. (Credit: Guilhem Dorandeu)
In its annual report on mental health in Lebanon, published on Mar. 1, Embrace, a non-governmental organization, highlights a distressing trend: a 21.7-percent increase in deaths by suicide in 2023 compared to the previous year.
This rise comes amid the profound challenges facing a nation grappling with an unprecedented economic, political and social crisis since 2019.
According to Embrace, which provides psychological counseling and operates Lebanon’s sole mental health helpline (1564), 168 individuals lost their lives to suicide in 2023. Among them were 119 Lebanese, 34 Syrians, five Ethiopians, three Palestinians, and seven individuals of undisclosed nationalities.
This stark figure represents a notable escalation from the 138 reported cases of suicide in 2022.
Mia Atoui, co-founder and president of Embrace, urges caution when interpreting these figures. She emphasized that various factors can influence the accuracy of reported cases each year.
“These statistics could indicate a genuine rise in suicides in Lebanon,” Atoui tells L’Orient-Le Jour. “However, they could also reflect an increase in the reporting of suicides by families or law enforcement.”
On average, Embrace notes, one person dies by suicide every two days in Lebanon.
People aged 23-32 are most at risk
The report highlights specific age groups particularly vulnerable to suicide.
In 2023, the most at-risk category was individuals aged 23 to 32, with 48 reported cases of suicide.
Following closely were those aged 33 to 42, with 29 suicides reported. Additionally, the age groups of 13 to 22, 43 to 52, and 63 to 72 experienced 24, 23, and 16 suicides respectively. Eight suicides were reported among individuals aged 53 to 62, and four among those aged 73 to 82.
According to Embrace, the disproportionately high rates of suicide deaths among individuals under the age of 40 can be attributed to the profound crisis gripping the country, which particularly impacts young adults.
Almost half of reported suicides (49 percent) occurred in Mount Lebanon, followed by 23 percent in the Bekaa Valley, 15 percent in North Lebanon, nine percent in South Lebanon, and four percent in Beirut, according to Embrace.
These figures are similar to those in 2022, “probably because Mount Lebanon is one of the most densely populated areas in the country,” according to the report,
Meanwhile, the towns most affected by suicides, as identified by the NGO, include Jdeideh, Jounieh, Beiteddine, Zahle, Baalbeck, Aley, the southern suburbs of Beirut, Zgharta and Tripoli.
A rise in hotline calls
“Whenever there’s a crisis in the country, people go through challenging mental struggles,” Atoui tells L’Orient-Le Jour. “We received numerous contacts from people following the Beirut port explosion and during the Covid-19 pandemic.”
She further noted a continuous increase in calls to the suicide prevention line and anticipates a further rise once the hostilities in South Lebanon ease.
“The war has persisted for several months,” Atoui says. “When individuals are engulfed in it, they may not fully comprehend the extent of their suffering.”
“It’s only after the events have passed that they might realize it and reach out to us,” she adds.
To address the surge in suicides, Atoui advocates, among other measures, for a more ethical approach to reporting on the issue in the media to prevent the spread of “suicide contagion” in the country.
Atoui cites March 2023 as an example, noting that Lebanese media reported 17 cases of suicide during that month. She cautions against the potential negative effects of over-publicization, particularly on the most vulnerable individuals.
“Exercise caution in reporting,” she says. “Avoid delving into macabre specifics such as the contents of the deceased’s letter, the method of suicide or details of the act itself.”
“Additionally, refrain from publishing photographs depicting the deceased,” she warns. “Such details can exacerbate dark thoughts in susceptible individuals, potentially leading them to consider or attempt self-harm.”
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If you are having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, or if you know someone who is, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline in Lebanon on 1564.
This article was originally published in L'Orient-Le Jour.