'Depression common public health disorder worldwide'
Nearly 800,000 people die every year from suicide, or one person every 40 seconds, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Nearly 800,000 people die every year from suicide, or one person every 40 seconds, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Suicides due to mental disorders take more lives than terrorism or natural calamities, the UN agency reported.
It said around 350 million people suffer from depression and 264 million face anxiety disorders, Anadolu Agency reports.
Depression isn’t dependent on culture or country or events in a person’s life. It is a public health disease found all over the world," psychiatrist Umut Isik told Anadolu Agency on the occasion of Oct. 10, World Mental Health Day.
Suicides generally occur during bouts of depression, Isik said.
He said one in four women experience depression during in their lifetime, versus one in eight men.
Although suicide attempts are more common among women, attempts resulting in death are higher among men, he said.
Women generally prefer "soft methods" such as overdosing on medication or poisoning themselves while men tend to use more concrete and precise methods, Isik added.
Depression is a chronic disease which requires serious treatment," he said, adding that it is a disease which recurs among 70%-80% of people who suffer it.
The suicide rate is high among people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol," he noted.
Stressing that drug and alcohol addiction also pave the way for suicides, he said alcohol is a major depressive drug that affects the brain with its toxic elements.
-Types of suicide
Isik said there are various types of suicide, including cultural, conscience, impulsive, altruistic, and collective.
Cultural" suicides can be observed in some countries where people generally live alone, he said.
The prevalence of cultural suicides is high in Japan. The rate of marriage and the number of families is low compared to other countries. They work too much and have limited social circles," he added.
He cited a Japanese engineer who ended his life due to professional failure as an example of a suicide of conscience.
Impulsive suicides are common among those who suffer from borderline personality disorders. They don’t take any pleasure from life," he added.
Condemning the trend of murders and suicides being livestreamed, he said they aim to "romanticize" certain kinds of death.
In some sub-cultures, being too emotional makes the suicide ‘romanticized.’ Suicides on Facebook happen as a way of taking revenge on someone," he said, adding the suicides are concerned with leaving messages to those they leave behind.
He cited a young boy who committed suicide with a rifle on Facebook live to show it to his girlfriend.
He said treating depression can be a real burden on countries, especially when they cannot provide basic treatment.
It is important to diagnose depression and prevent its recurrence through early response and regular examination, he added.
Marking World Suicide Prevention Day, the WHO stepped up efforts to raise awareness of the scale of suicide around the world.
Our efforts will continue over the next month," said the UN agency.
The WHO urged all people to take part in a "40 seconds of action" event to improve awareness and knowledge of what can be done to prevent suicide and let people who are struggling know that they are not alone.
Source: Kazinform News Agency
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
relevant news
Over 300 babies born in flood-stricken areas in Kazakhstan
325 babies were born in the regions of Kazakhstan that declared recently a local state of emergency due to flooding. 387 pregnant women are under the doctor’s care, Kazinform News Agency reports.
Most babies were born in Kostanay, Aktobe and West Kazakhstan regions since the beginning of the floods, Aigerim Urazaliyeva, the Kazakh Healthcare Ministry’s official spokesperson, said.
5,035 children from flood-hit regions are staying at temporary shelters of which 62 were taken to hospitals.
She noted over 1,000 people sought psychological assistance.
7,617 flood victims have chronic diseases. All of them are monitored by health workers, she added.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
2 schools shifted to online learning amid flooding in N Kazakhstan
Images | Depositphotos
347 pupils of two schools switched to online learning amid flooding in North Kazakhstan, Kazinform News Agency reports.
Schools were temporarily shifted to online teaching in Zarechnyi and Pokrovka villages as the River Yessil overflowed.
All villagers of Zarechnyi were evacuated amid flood risks. Ice jams triggered flooding in Pokrovka village leaving tens of homes on Beregovaya Street underwater.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
First Kazakh Senate Speaker passes away
Images | senate.parlam.kz
An outstanding statesman, the first Speaker of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan (1996-1999), Baigeldi Omirbek has passed away today in Astana, Kazinform News Agency cites the Kazakh Senate’s press service.
Baigeldi Omirbek was born in 1939 in Dzhambul region, KazSSR.
Baigeldi Omirbek served as the deputy of the Parliament of Kazakhstan of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th convocations. He worked at the Senate for more than 16 years.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
Year of Kazakhstan Tourism in China officially opens in Beijing
Images | Kunsultan Otarbai/Kazinform
The Year of Kazakhstan Tourism in China has been opened in a grand ceremony at the China National Opera House in Beijing, Kazinform News Agency reports.
As part of the ceremony, an ethno-auyl (village) and the cultural events are being presented before the China National Opera House building.
Addressing the guests and participants of the event were Deputy Prime Minister - Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu, head of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party Li Shulei, Kazakh Sport and Tourism Minister Yermek Marzhikpayev and Chinese Culture and Tourism Minister Sun Yeli.
Opening the festive gala concert was the theatrical choreographic performance ‘Yer saltanaty’ by the soloists of the Abay Opera House, artists of the Astana Ballet Theatre and the ‘Shattyq’ Dance Theatre.
People's artist of Kazakhstan Roza Rymbaeva, honored artist of Kazakhstan Mayra Mukhamedkyzy, opera singer Zarina Altynbaeva, ethno-rock group ‘Ulytau’, choir group of Abai Kazakh State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater, ensembles ‘Serper’ and ‘Sazgen Sazy’ and the ballet troupe ‘Astana Ballet’ will take part in the concert dedicated to the opening of the Year of Kazakhstan Tourism in China.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.
Kazakh nationals urged to leave Ukraine's Odessa and Kharkiv regions
Images | Depositphotos
The Kazakh Embassy in Ukraine has recommended nationals of Kazakhstan to consider departing the Odessa and Kharkiv regions in a statement published on the embassy’s official website, Kazinform News Agency reports.
In view of rising tensions and unstable security situation in the Odessa and Kharkiv regions of Ukraine, the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Ukraine recommends the nationals of Kazakhstan to consider deaprting these regions," the statement reads.
The Embassy notes that to travel from Ukraine to Kazakhstan, the nationals of Kazakhstan can use two land routes - through Poland or Moldova, and then travel by commercial flights.
In case of departure through Poland, they will need a Schengen visa, while visa is not required to enter Moldova.
At the same time, the Embassy calls on all citizens not to ignore the air raid alerts and immediately seek shelter," the Embassy says on its Telegram channel.
This information may not be reproduced without reference to Kazakhstan Today. Copyright of materials of News Agency Kazakhstan Today.