64 Suicide Cases Recorded in Baghdad in First Quarter of 2025: Iraqi Security Source
Years of conflict, political instability, economic hardship, and limited access to mental health services have contributed to a worrying rise in suicide rates across the country.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — An Iraqi security source revealed on Monday that 64 suicide cases have been recorded in Baghdad during the first three months of 2025.
Speaking to Shafaq News, the security official said that between January 1 and April 1, a total of 64 suicides involving both males and females were officially documented across the Iraqi capital’s two main sides: Rasafa and Karkh.
According to the source, methods of suicide varied and included self-immolation, hanging, gunshot wounds, and jumping from a high place. Rasafa, the eastern side of Baghdad, recorded the highest number with 44 cases, while Karkh, on the western side, reported 20 cases.
The alarming figures have once again drawn attention to the growing mental health crisis in Iraq, particularly among youth. Years of conflict, political instability, economic hardship, and limited access to mental health services have contributed to a worrying rise in suicide rates across the country.
Iraqi social workers and psychologists have repeatedly warned of the urgent need for government-backed awareness campaigns, support systems, and investment in mental health services to address the underlying causes driving individuals to take their own lives.
Baghdad, a city still bearing the scars of decades of war and unrest, reflects the broader mental health challenges facing Iraqi society. Experts argue that without significant intervention, the trend could worsen, particularly among vulnerable populations grappling with unemployment, poverty, trauma, and societal pressures.
In recent years, the Iraqi government has vowed to increase mental health resources, but progress has been slow, with many communities still lacking sufficient services. The latest statistics underscore the pressing need for more comprehensive and proactive strategies to combat the mental health crisis in Iraq.