Karachi: At least 55 people — nearly two every hour, or one every 26 minutes — are committing suicide in Pakistan, many of them young, due to mental health disorders such as depression and borderline personality disorder, leading psychiatrists and health experts warned on Friday. They cautioned that the actual number is likely higher as suicides remain heavily underreported in the country.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Pakistan’s suicide mortality rate surged by 34 percent between 2019 and 2022, rising from 7.3 to 9.8 per 100,000 people. While official statistics are scarce, local research estimates around 20,000 suicides annually — nearly 55 lives lost daily — with men accounting for almost 62 percent of cases.
“These are not just numbers; they represent human tragedies,” said Prof. Iqbal Afridi, renowned psychiatrist and former president of the Pakistan Psychiatric Society (PPS).
He explained that depression is the leading cause of suicide among men, while borderline personality disorder — a condition marked by unstable emotions, impulsive actions and intense relationships — is often seen among young women who attempt or die by suicide.
Contrary to common belief, Prof. Afridi noted that people with severe depression sometimes have lower suicide rates because they lack the energy to act, whereas those with mild to moderate depression are more likely to attempt suicide.
“Those who say they will commit suicide often mean it — research shows that 70 percent of those who attempted suicide had warned their families or friends beforehand,” he added.
Prof. Afridi said that while religion strongly prohibits suicide — Islam clearly declares it forbidden — people still take this step when overwhelmed by despair. In places like Tharparkar, he said, poverty, food insecurity, harsh climate and lack of opportunities push many toward self-harm.
In Gilgit-Baltistan, social disparities and family conflicts contribute to higher suicide rates, while bipolar disorder is also a recognized cause. Cousin marriages, he warned, are contributing to a higher prevalence of inherited mental health problems in Pakistan, further complicating the crisis.
Experts stress that suicide is not just caused by external stressors but also by biological changes in the brain. Prof. Afridi explained that chronic stress can over-activate the body’s hormone system, producing too much cortisol, which damages brain regions responsible for decision-making and emotional control.
At the same time, low serotonin — the brain chemical that stabilizes mood — is strongly linked to hopelessness and suicidal thoughts. “Brain inflammation and chemical imbalances weaken resilience to stress, making people more impulsive and vulnerable to depression and self-harm,” he said.
Globally, WHO estimates that one suicide is attempted every 40 seconds. While Pakistan’s rate is comparatively lower, experts believe the crisis is growing rapidly and remains dangerously under-researched.
“We have no reliable national data on suicide, no registry, and very few quality studies. Without research, we cannot design policies or interventions to save lives,” Prof. Afridi lamented.
He added that social and family factors continue to drive people to suicide, including poor relationships between spouses, marital separation, and loss of employment, exam failures and financial pressures. Biological factors like lack of serotonin further increase vulnerability.
“The problem is multi-dimensional, but it can be addressed through early mental health interventions, public awareness, and by dismantling the stigma around psychiatric illness,” he said.
Despite the grim figures, experts stressed that suicide is preventable. They called for a coordinated national suicide prevention strategy, stronger community awareness and urgent investment in mental health services. “Suicide is not just an individual tragedy — it is a public health emergency. Society, government and communities all need to step up before we lose more lives to silence and neglect,” Prof. Afridi urged.
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