On World Suicide Prevention Day, the Arab Foundation reports 216 suicides in 2024 and calls on the government to disclose the true number of suicides and develop a clear strategy to reduce them.
The organization issues this suicide monitoring report to coincide with World Suicide Prevention Day, observed annually on September 10.
The World Health Organization indicates that suicide is a major public health problem with far-reaching social, emotional, and economic consequences.
It is estimated that there are currently more than 700,000 suicides annually worldwide.
International statistics indicate that Egypt had the highest suicide rate among Arab countries in 2016, with approximately 3,800 people committing suicide that year, according to World Health Organization statistics.
In 2019, 3,022 people committed suicide in Egypt alone.
Egypt witnessed 2,584 suicides in 2021, according to statistics released by the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
In this context, the organization monitored 216 suicides in 2024. It should be noted that this monitoring was based on reports published about these cases in several Egyptian news outlets.
This figure does not reflect the true number of suicides this year, which is more than ten times higher.
The Egyptian government does not announce the true number of suicides, which is available through police reports and Ministry of Health records.
Giza Governorate recorded the highest number of suicides with 78 cases, representing 36.11%.
Cairo Governorate follows with 39 cases, representing 18.05%, and in third place is Sohag Governorate with 32 cases, representing 14.81%, a relatively high ranking for the governorate, indicating a rise in such cases there.
Minya Governorate comes in fourth place with 16 suicide cases, representing 7.40%, followed by Dakahlia Governorate with 14 cases, representing 6.48%, and then Fayoum Governorate with 10 cases, representing 4.62%.
The Greater Cairo governorates (Cairo, Giza, and Qalyubia) topped the list with 121 suicides, representing 56% of the total.
Upper Egypt followed with 68 suicides (31.48%), then Lower Egypt with 21 suicides (9.72%).
The border governorates (Red Sea and North Sinai) recorded 4 suicides (1.85%).
The months with the highest number of recorded suicides were January, March, February, October, and December, with 24, 25, 26, 28, and 29 cases, respectively.
Suicides by gender: Males accounted for the highest percentage of suicides, with 142 cases (65.74%), while females accounted for 74 cases (34.25%).
Method of suicide: Hanging was the most common method of suicide, with 101 cases (46.75%), followed by jumping from a height (43 cases, 19.9%), then ingesting grain pills, poison, or excessive medication (45 cases, 20.83%), then drowning in the Nile or the sea (13 cases, 6.01%), and finally shooting oneself (4 cases, 1.85%).
This was followed by suicide by self-immolation (5 cases, 2.31%), and then suicide by slitting one’s throat or cutting one’s wrists (3 cases, 1.38%).
Age breakdown:
The 21-30 age group had 64 suicides, representing 29.62%, followed by the under-18 age group with 40 cases, representing 18.51%, followed by the 31-40 age group with 25 cases, representing 11.57%, followed by the 41-50 age group with 17 cases, representing 7.87%, then in the next order, the 19-20 age group with 15 cases, representing 6.94%, followed by the 51-60 age group with 8 cases, representing 3.7%.
On the other hand, the reasons for suicide are numerous and include:
Psychological crises, mental illnesses such as depression, family disputes, marital conflicts, financial hardship
Anxiety about exams and failing high school
Emotional reasons such as the inability to marry or the breaking of an engagement
Drug addiction
Grief over the death of a family member
Sherif Helaly, the foundation’s executive director, points to the lack of a government stance regarding the increasing number of suicides in recent years in general, the absence of accurate data on these cases, and the failure to identify and address the governorates with the highest suicide rates, particularly Giza and some governorates in Lower and Upper Egypt, such as Sohag.
Hence, the organization calls for a national strategy to address the increasing number of these cases, especially in light of the deteriorating economic and social conditions and the rising poverty rates, which are one of the main reasons for committing suicide and represent a strong incentive to give up the right to life.
This is done in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the Doctors Syndicate, the National Center for Social and Criminal Research, national councils including the National Council for Human Rights, Women and Children, and relevant civil society organizations.
– Evaluating the hotline method announced by the General Secretariat for Mental Health, Ministry of Health, which is effective in preventing suicides, receiving psychological inquiries and support, and assisting those wishing to commit suicide.
