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Increasing Trend of Suicide Among Youth: A Social and 
Psychological Problem 

Dua Soomro, Hamna Javed, Hala Saadat ullah Khan, Salwa Nadeem, and Zainab 
Iqbal 

Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan 

Abstract 

Suicide among young people appears to be a severe issue that requires immediate 
attention and concerted global initiatives. Suicide is now a leading cause of death in all 
parts of the world. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) estimate, low and 
middle-income countries account for approximately 77% of all suicides worldwide. 
Pakistan, which is also a developing country, has seen an upsurge in the number of 
suicides among its youth, but official suicide numbers in the country are still unclear. 
Pakistan neither submits suicide fatality numbers to the WHO nor compiles national 
suicidal statistics. Certain social and religious factors make reporting and collection of 
data on suicide difficult in Pakistan, however, research of several studies reveals that 
household problems are the leading cause of suicide in Asian countries. The research 
paper is divided into two sections: (1) variables that contribute to the rise of child and 
teenage suicide, and (2) evidence-based therapy of child and adolescent suicide. 
Academic success, physical condition, mental health and well-being, economic status, 
financial difficulties, and overall life enjoyment are all crucial matters to consider. 
According to a survey, the leading cause of mortality among persons in 2019 was 
suicide. As a global goal, WHO has prioritized the lowering of suicide moral. This paper 
indicates that the only way forward is to eliminate all risk factors through integrated and 
multi-sector prevention programs, with essential prevention methods that can be 
population-based as well as targeted to high-risk sub-groups. 

Keywords: suicide, adolescent suicide, national suicidal statistics, suicide morality 

Introduction  

Suicide is a major public health concern among young people. It has now become an 
incredibly major societal issue in all modern societies. It is the second biggest cause 
of death among people aged 15 to 29. According to World Health Organization report 
(2019), almost 703,000 people commit suicide globally in 2019(WHO, 2019).  Several 
frequent elements interact to increase a person's proclivity to commit suicide. Personal, 
social, psychological, cultural, biological, and environmental aspects can all be 
considered. According to the WHO, 75 percent of suicides occur in poor and middle-
income nations as opposed to Western ones (Shekhani et al, 2018). Furthermore, 
Covid-19 has exacerbated the situation and produced a serious mental health 
challenge around the world. Pakistan, as a developing country, witnesses a high 
suicidal rate; however, official statistics on suicide in the country are still lacking due to 
different socio-cultural and religious stigmas (Shekhani et al, 2018). Moreover, this 
article examines the reasons of adolescent suicide as well as techniques for preventing 
it. 

Causes of Suicide among adolescents  



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There are two major factors which lead to suicide among adolescents. These are,  

1. Psychological factors  

2. Social factors 

Psychological Factors  

Mental Health Problems and Psychiatric Disorders 

According to the study of Shaffer and Craft (1999), the 90% of adolescent who 
committed suicide had suffered from one or more psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, 
depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or schizophrenia. These disorders brought 
a person to highest risks of committing suicide but due to combination of any of these 
two disorders, for instance depression and schizophrenia, will lead to highest risks of 
suicide. Among all other disorders, depression is the most common disorder resulting 
in the suicide among adolescents 

Poor Coping Skill  

According to research adolescents who are involved in suicidal behaviors seem to 
behave more aggressively and impulsively, have lack positive coping and problem 
solving skills, feel less supported by family and friends, and have a general feeling of 
hopelessness. They perceive their life as worthless and meaningless as they do not 
feel like any change or improvement in their life. They become hopeless and lack 
interest in any healthy activity. They do not know how to manage all the difficulties of 
the life and end up by committing suicide. Trait impulsivity, observed using self-report 
measures, has been shown to predict suicidal ideation and suicide attempt among 
adolescents and young adults. 

Social Factors  

Family Conflicts  

Suicidal cases associated with family disputes are most common all over the world. 
Peer support and school environment are necessary elements for healthy life. 
Disruption and unhealthy environment of home makes thing more complex for 
adolescents. Peer relationship with a child has major impacts on the life of adolescents. 
When there is lack of support of parents, the adolescents feel insecure and unsafe. 
They lack the power to cope up with problems, which develops the sense of fear, 
uncertainty, and self-doubt among them and it increases with age.  Bullying, social 
pressure and physical maltreatment during childhood and early adolescence causes 
higher risks of suicide among adolescents.  

Social Media Usage  



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As cited by U.S department of health and human services in a report of September, 
the suicide rate for pediatric patients rose by 57.4% from 2007 to 2018. The report 
stated that problematic use of the internet causes poor mental outcomes (Allie Squires, 
2020). The excessive use of internet results in sleep problems, eye vision issues, 
headache and it changes person’s emotions at the same time. The adolescents who 
use social media more often exhibit lack of low self-esteem, an inferiority complex, a 
negative body image, and risk-taking behaviors. Teens who reported using social 
networking sites for more than two hours per day were substantially more likely to have 
negative mental health outcomes, such as anxiety and suicide thinking, according to 
Pew Research Center research from 2015. 

Employment  

Unemployment is an identified risk factor for suicide in a developing country. The 
research shows that the suicide rate increases with an increase in unemployment. It is 
the well-known cause of social stress among adolescents as the family tensions 
increase with time. Most companies employ the people with better experience. 
Companies do not prefer adolescent but due to the heavy responsibilities on their 
shoulder, adolescents feel hopeless and worthless. They lose the hope for struggling 
and ending up their life becomes the only best solution to them. 

Poverty   

Poverty is also the main cause of suicide in developing countries. Due to poverty some 
people do not have sufficient resources to fulfil their own needs and the needs of their 
family. It is stated that the risk of suicide is 37% higher in the countries which are facing 
the problems of poverty than developed countries. People living in poverty are having 
a stressful environment, worrying about how to fulfill needs of the family members. 
Adolescents who grow up in poverty live the life full of abuses and stress. They face 
many challenges to survive in the environment and get the experience of isolation, 
hopelessness and stress due to the limited opportunities. 

Substance Use or Abuse  

According to the research of Groves, Stanley and Sher (2007), the substance abuse 
also has an  impact on the rates of adolescent suicide, as it causes self-destructive 
behavior (Groves et al, 2007) The Abuse of prescription and illicit drugs, excessive 
alcohol consumption, self-mutilation, and numerous dangerous or violent sexual 
experiences were all or part of the self-destructive activities. The combination of 
different mental disorders and substance use by adolescents can cause fatal results. 
According to research of Kolves and De Leo (2017), substance use increases the 
suicidal thoughts among males 17 times more than in a normal person who commits 
suicide without taking drugs ( Kolves et al, 2017).  

Gaming and Suicide - An Emerging Connection  

These days, access to a game just requires a small installation due to advancement in 
gaming industry. Even though we are all aware of the enjoyable aspects of gaming, 
there is also a darker side to it. The Youth Risk Behavior Survey from 2007 to 2009 



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found that teens who spend five hours or more using social media feel depressed, 
have more suicidal thoughts, and plot suicide more frequently (Erick Messias et al, 
2011). The excessive use of the internet and gaming causes depression, self-doubts 
and lack of coping power. Adolescents who play games are more likely emotionally 
less stable, having aggressive issues, severe anger, guilt, envious and mentally less 
stable. As they spend more time in gaming, they do not feel any need for social 
interactions so they even stop interacting with their parents and siblings. Sometimes, 
losing games makes them more aggressive and they start getting self-doubts, which 
leads them to commit suicide. 

Facts and Figures About Suicide Worldwide  

Suicide is the fourth most common cause of death for persons across the globe 
between the ages of 15 and 29 and happens throughout life. Every suicide is a tragedy 
that has an impact on the survivors as well as the families, communities, and entire 
nations. According to World Health Organization report (2019), almost 703,000 people 
commit suicide globally in 2019. (WHO, 2019).  Men have a greater suicide rate than 
women, on the other hand women often have higher rates of suicidal thinking and 
action (Helene. S, 2019). The death rates, which are lower in women than in males, 
seem to be the source of the discrepancy. According to Denning et al. (2000), males 
prefer weapons and hanging whereas women choose drug overdose and carbon 
monoxide poisoning. This may explain variations in suicide death rates, as males tend 
to utilize more fatal methods such as weapons and hanging which offer minimal 
prospect of rescue or survival compared to drug overdose, carbon monoxide 
poisoning, or self-harm. It is observed that men are more impulsive than women, which 
is demonstrated by the fact that men are more likely to engage in aggressive behavior, 
accidents, injuries caused by violence, drug usage, and criminal activity, all of which 
have been connected to impulsivity. The greatest rates of suicide are seen in East 
European and East Asian nations, while the lowest rates are found in Latin American 
and Muslim nations. (John. S, 2018). In low and middle-income nations, suicide rates 
were highest (77 percent), while high-income countries have the highest age-
standardized suicide rate (10.9 per 100 000). In 2019, the rate in lower-middle-income 
countries was slightly lower (10.1 per 100 000). (WHO, 2021). China and India account 
for the majority of global suicides, while South Korea has seen a significant increase 
in suicide rates over the last decade. (Steve. M, 2018) 

Suicide in the Context of Pakistan  

Pakistan, a country in South Asia, has the sixth-largest population in the world despite 
its tiny size geographically. Pakistan has a 97 percent Muslim majority, but there are 
sizable religious minorities there as well, including Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, 
Buddhists, and Zoroastrians. In 2008, there were 782,000 suicides worldwide, which 
accounted for 1.4% of all deaths and 15% of reported injury deaths (Sadiq et al, 2017). 
According to WHO report (2019), more than one in every 100 deaths (1.3%) in 2019 
was the result of suicide (WHO, 2019). However, only about half of the world's nations 
have allowed the WHO to gather data from them. The WHO received no data from 
Pakistan about suicide mortality.  

 



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Legal Aspects of Suicide in Pakistan 

Islam views suicide as a sin, and as Pakistani law is based on Islamic principles, 
engaging in suicidal conduct or attempting suicide is a crime subject to fines and/or 
imprisonment. The Pakistan Penal Code, 1860, contains the penal provision known as 
Section 325, which is in force all across the nation. According to the law, "Anyone who 
tries suicide or commits any act that contributes to the commission of such an offence 
will be punished with simple imprisonment for a time that may not exceed one year, or 
with fine, or with both." According to the legislation, attempts at suicide and suicides 
must be reported to the police for further investigation. 

Suicide Prevention   

Treatment 

Suicidal thoughts frequently have a treatable underlying mental health condition. If this 
is the case, the patient should consult a psychiatrist or another medical professional 
with expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. Likewise Suicidal 
thoughts may occasionally be related to an underlying physical health issue. To find 
out if this is the case, the person would undergo blood testing and other examinations. 
Treatment for suicidal thoughts and behavior is based on one's individual 
circumstances, including suicide risk and any underlying issues that might be driving 
then (Jo Robinson, 2016). 

Media 

Adults frequently use social media and most of the interactions take place on digital 
platforms nowadays. In comparison to the virtual world, face-to-face discussion takes 
far less time (Prakash Singh, 2019). The quick introduction and advancement of 
smartphones is to blame for the sudden rise in young people’s use of digital media. 
Therefore, it is preferable to approach them through social media or digital media by 
conducting awareness campaigns. 

Youth Participation and Engagement 

Youth participation and engagement among different preventions programs can 
reduce the suicide risk. Adolescent pregnancy, delinquency, substance misuse, and 
depression are all risk factors and correlates of suicide that have been demonstrated 
to be effectively prevented and/or reduced by school-based programs using a health 
promotion approach. (Heather L Ramey 2010). Additionally, these programs foster 
interpersonal problem solving, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and social support as 
protective factors against suicide  

Family Support 

Family members and other caregivers have a crucial role in preventing suicide and can 
become involved in a variety of ways. They can boost a person’s life’s protective 
aspects, for instance by aiding in the development of interpersonal relationships and 



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life skills. They can also urge the person to seek and adhere to therapy, offer support 
during suicidal crises, and aid in keeping the person safe (John Wiley, 2021). 

Restriction of Access to Common Means of Committing Suicide 

By way of restricting access to common means of suicide, which include firearms, 
poisonous gas, pesticides and other, has been proven effective in reducing rates of 
suicide. Among all means, firearms are the most commonly used means. Overdose of 
medicinal drugs is another method which can be minimized by decreasing the amount 
of drugs. Many suicide attempts take place in the course of a short-term crisis, so it is 
essential to consider someone's access to deadly means during those durations of 
increased risk (Marco Sarchiapone et al, 2011). 

Education 

Interventions in education at the school level greatly reduce young suicidal thoughts 
and attempts (LynsayAyat, 2022). Hence awareness through education is much 
needed at school and college level because teens are more likely to have suicidal 
thoughts (Christina M. Cammarta, 2020) 

Health Facilities and Health Workers 

To prevent the risk of suicide before it occurs two main categories of strategies can be 
supported and implemented by health workers. 

The Prevention strategies that health workers may consider include:  

1. Increasing access to mental health screening tools for self-assessment.  

2. Increased access to mental health services (e.g. employee assistance programs) 
and easier access to employee support services (e.g. mental health, medicines, and 
financial advice) (Hope Tiesman, 2021). 

Poverty 

Suicide rates are on peak in those nations where rates of poverty are high. It has been 
observed that 75% of suicides occur in low and middle earning nations (J. Bantjes, 
2014). Research has shown that suicidal behavior is also linked to financial status of 
the individuals (Government of such nations need to take control of unemployment and 
provide basic resources and jobs to meet the needs of people so that they live their life 
fairly in a better way and they do not commit suicide in order to solve their problems 
(Maria Cohut, 2020). 

It indicates that suicide among young people is a major issue that calls for quick 
attention and organized actions on a worldwide scale.  

Conclusion  



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When someone commits a suicide, psychological issues are key contributing factors. 
Mental illness is a significant psychological risk factor for a suicide. However, other risk 
factors are also significant; they often have to do with societal systems and particular 
stresses. Pakistan, an Islamic nation, is one of the nations that forbids suicide. Suicide 
attempt is a crime in Pakistan under Section 325 of the Penal Code, which needs to 
be reassessed. The concept of social and public health recognizes the possibility of 
preventing suicide. Modifying attitudes about suicide through educational initiatives 
and legal tools is an important step in such a strategy. 

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Author Notes 
 
Dua Soomro has completed her intermediate in pre-engineering from Gul Model 
Science College Jacobabad. Now she is studying Law at Fatima Jinnah Women 
University Rawalpindi. She is from the northern area of Sindh called Jacobabad. She 
worked hard with determination and always passionate about their advocacies for 
quality education, women rights. She believes in humanity and social justice in society. 
She participated in GIC to highlight the issue that increasing trend of suicide among 
youth is a social and psychological problem. Her email address is 
duamanzoor283@gmail.com.  
 
Hala Saadat Ullah Khan has completed her intermediate in Pre-Medical from Punjab 
Group of Colleges, Rawalpindi. Now she is studying Law at Fatima Jinnah Women 
University, Rawalpindi. She is basically from Wanna, South Waziristan agency. She is 
strongly motivated by prevailing justice in society, protect civil liberties and rights and 
serve for humanity because she believes that the sole purpose of life is to serve 
humanity. That is why she participated in GIC to highlight the issue of suicide rate 
among youth which is becoming a grave problem and needs to be addressed because 
life is precious. Her email address is halasaadat7@gmail.com.  
 
Hamna Javed has opted for law and currently studying in Fatima Jinnah Women 
University Rawalpindi. She has done her intermediate from Peace Group of College 
Mansehra. Her native town is Mansehra. She always participates in extra-curricular 
activities and she has done many community works as well. She is very keen about 
spreading positivity around the world and wants to work for well-being of humanity for 
that particular reason. She participated in GIC. She researched about the causes of 
suicide. Her email address is hamnaj019@gmail.com. 



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Salwa Nadeem has completed her intermediate in Humanities from Government 
Federal Government College Abid Majeed Road Raway. Now she is studying Law at 
Fatima Jinnah Women University Rawalpindi. She is from a Punjab province in 
Pakistan. She is interested in human welfare and she decided to study law in order to 
use it for the welfare of people, believing that lawyers can speak out when others fear 
to do so and can stand for the betterment of people and for the rights of individuals. 
That is why she participated in GIC to highlight the issue of suicide rate among youth. 
Her email address is salwanadeem786@gmail.com. 
 
Zainab Iqbal is currently working as a Lecturer in the Department of Law at Fatima 
Jinnah Women University Rawalpindi, Pakistan. She has completed her Master's 
Degree (LLM International Law) in 2019 from International Islamic University, 
Islamabad. In her LLM, she wrote a thesis on “The Need for a Comprehensive Arms 
Trade Treaty to Prevent Violations of International Humanitarian Law”. She has served 
as a consultant for various international organizations, including UN Women, British 
Council, and EU. She can be contacted at zainab.iqbal412@gmail.com. 
 


