Suicide in Kazakhstan

Suicide in Kazakhstan is a very common cause of unnatural death in the country and a long term social issue. According to the 2020 report of World Health Organization, suicides account for 2.76% of total deaths in Kazakhstan.^[1] Suicide of teenaged and young aged people is a big issue in the country.^[2] In the age group of 15-49 year olds, suicide makes up for 12.2% of all deaths in Kazakhstan.^[3]

The country has highest number of recorded suicides among girls aged 15 to 19, and for boys, it is the second highest after Russia. A UNICEF report of 2009 shows, between 1999 and 2008 the number of suicides among young people of the country increased by 23%.^[2]

According to Raisa Sher, head of the country's education ministry's child protection committee, there are several factors behind such high rates of suicide among people of a young age, such as:^[2]

• School bullying
• Absence or loss of values
• Falling standards of social behavior
• Alienation

According to UNICEF and World Health Organization data, Kazakhstan has the highest suicide level among people aged 15 to 19 in the world.^[6] Kazakhstan was 2nd worldwide for suicide among teenage boys, and 1st among suicide for teenage girls.

According to a UNICEF study conducted in five Kazakhstani cities with 1700 teenagers, social issues, family problems and a lack of support were among the main reasons for teenage suicide. According to the study, Kazakhstani parents spend only 20 minutes of 'quality time' with their children a day.^[7]