Two young men committed suicide in two different areas of Balochistan, bringing the death toll to five. The suicide crisis among the Baloch youth is taking a grim turn – activists and social media users are calling for investigations into what incentivizes the youth to end their lives, and campaigns to raise awareness about mental health problems and suicide prevention.
The two victims have been identified as Hameed s/o Muhammad Jan, a resident of Pasni, and Sani s/o Rahmat, a resident of Turbat.
At least five cases of suicide have been reported in Balochistan in the past four days, and the death toll is only rising. In the past four days, suicide cases have been reported from Nushki, Panjgoor, Turbat and Pasni. A young man in Wadh also attempted to kill himself but he was rescued in time.
A suicide crisis is unfolding in Balochistan as more and more young men and women are trying to end their lives. Suicidal tendencies have seen an alarming spike among the youth, and most young men end their lives either due to unemployment or a variety of mental health problems that result from social and economical deprivation.
Young Baloch women usually commit suicide either due to family pressures or because of the grief and depression resulting from the separation of a loved one due to “enforced disappearances.” In some cases, married women with multiple children have ended their lives when they could no longer tolerate the “disappearance” of their brothers, fathers, husbands or sons.