Suicide in Iran and the WorldAccording to statistics from the World Health Organization, one million people die from suicide annually, which means one person dies every 40 seconds in the world due to suicide. According to the summary of the forensic medicine yearbook, in 2019, 5143 people committed suicide, of which 3626 were men and 1517 were women. This is while in 2018, according to this report, 5101 people died from suicide.

According to the World Health Organization’s report in 2012, 75.5% of suicides in the world occur in countries with average and low income, and 24.5% are related to high-income countries. Considering that 81.7% of the world’s population lives in countries with average and low income, suicide rates in these countries are about three times higher than in high-income countries. Most deaths from suicide occur in Asian countries (60% of suicides in the world occur in the Asia region) and belong to the age

What is the relationship between social capital and suicide?Since 1990, the impact of social capital on health has been widely studied. The results of initial research showed that the dimensions of social capital (networks, social participation, trust, and mutual relationships) have a positive and significant effect on maintaining and improving health.

In general, social capital is a set of potential resources that arise through membership in social networks, actors, and organizations. In other words, it includes trust-based and reciprocal relationships in social networks. The argument for social capital in its weakest and most common form is that it is a resource that actors can use to achieve their goals. Social capital is the benefits and privileges obtained by groups that individuals are members of in both household and non-household networks.

Additionally, a relationship has been established between a number of concepts and depression, among which the dimensions of social capital, such as trust and psychological depression, social support and mental disorders, and social relationships and depression, stand out. Studies have shown that the characteristics of social networks and received

Examples of high levels of social capital in society:
– Feeling supported and helped in personal and family difficulties
– Having trust in others when pursuing social activities
– Volunteering to work in charity organizations
– Helping and assisting others
– Participating in social processes and voting in local and national elections
– Paying attention to social support for isolated individuals and strengthening the sense of social solidarity or cohesion.

What is the relationship between social capital and depression?
Depression is known as one of the main motivations for suicide. In addition to feeling down, there is also a decrease in motivation to engage in activities, resulting in a significant decrease in energy levels and a constant feeling of fatigue and exhaustion. Depressed individuals are also disinterested in themselves and their lives, often attributing various deficiencies and inadequacies to themselves. They experience doubt and apathy and often have difficulties with thinking, concentration, and memory.

Social capital acts as a shield and protective factor in preventing depression. Studies show that providing social support to women and increasing trust between couples can effectively reduce the negative effects of depression and improve quality of life and mental health. Receiving formal and informal support leads to a sense of well-being and lessens the burden of depression.

According to Brian Turner, social capital supports individuals during severe episodes of depression and reduces their vulnerability to negative mental states. He believes that one of the most important factors in moderating the level of depression can be the presence of

The public trust situation in Iran

But what is the state of social trust in our society? Numerous studies have been conducted on social trust in the past. What is evident from the sum of these studies is that social trust among people is not in a desirable state. Researchers have evaluated trust at the intermediate and institutional or general level as average and lower than that, and in a state of erosion. For example, a comparison of the results of a research entitled “National Survey of Values and Attitudes of Iranians” conducted twice in 1379 and 1382, shows that the index of social trust is not desirable in many areas, but rather follows a downward trend.

In the midst of this, with the decrease in trust and the increase in loneliness in Iranian society, it seems that the issue of suicide has turned into a crisis. A society that, with the promotion and encouragement of the government towards an individualistic society, taking into account personal interests, is moving forward, where individuals lose the opportunity to participate in civil institutions and