Suicide in Mozambique

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Suicide in Mozambique is a significant national social issue. It has one of the highest suicide rates in the world, and Mozambique is Africa's most suicide-prone area. However, suicide only accounts for a fraction of the deaths in the country. Mozambique's mental health infrastructure is considerably understaffed, with only 13 psychiatrists.

Incidence[edit]

Data regarding suicide in Mozambique, like that of the rest of Africa, is limited. In 2011, there were 2,667 recorded suicides in Mozambique, accounting for approximately 0.9% of all deaths in the country for that year. Nonetheless, the country's suicide rate of 18 per 100,000 was the 19th-highest in 2011; it increased to sixth-highest in 2015.[1] According to a 2014 report, Mozambique had the most suicides in the entire African continent.[2]

Methodology and prevention[edit]

According to a 2014 study, the most common suicide methods for males and females were hanging and ingesting toxic substances respectively.[3] With only 13 psychiatrists in the entire country with a population of some 28 million people, Mozambique is poorly equipped to tackle its suicide rate.[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Ronald W. Maris (4 March 2019). Suicidology. Guilford Publications. pp. 145–. ISBN 978-1-4625-3698-6.
  2. ^ "Mozambique 'No 1 suicide nation in Africa'". eNCa. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  3. ^ Wagenaar, B. H.; Raunig-Berhó, M.; Cumbe, V.; Rao, D.; Napúa, M.; Sherr, K. (2016). "Suicide attempts and deaths in Sofala, Mozambique, from 2011 to 2014: Who, where, and from what". The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention. 37 (6): 445–453. PMC 5133176.
  4. ^ Bernstein, Carole. "Tangling with the Science of Suicide". Penn Medicine News. Retrieved 7 May 2020.