Another Resident Commits Suicide in Iran

Warning: Contains content related to suicide. Nothing is more important than human life. If you are thinking about suicide, please contact the following special numbers for help: In Iran: Social Emergency 123, Consultant Voice 1480, or Tehran Psychiatric Emergency 44508200. In the USA: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 18002738255, or National Crisis and Suicide Prevention Line 988. In Canada: 911 or 18334564566. In the UK: 116123. In Afghanistan: 119. A member of the board of the Medical System in Tehran reported the suicide of a resident in Yazd. Mohammad Reza Asadi wrote on the social media platform X: "The continuation of the domino effect of doctors' suicides this time in Yazd. A pediatric resident at Shahid Sadooghi Hospital in Yazd and the mother of a young child, Dr. Foroughi Nasab, ended her life." A member of the board of the Medical System in Greater Tehran wrote: "The deceased had a history of suicide, and the relevant authorities were aware of her condition, yet they continued to conceal treatment and deluded themselves into thinking they could solve the problem." In the early days of Farvardin (March), news of the suicide of Dr. Parastoo Bakhshi, a 35-year-old heart specialist at Ibn Sina Hospital in Delfan County, sparked widespread reactions from the medical community inside and outside Iran, prompting some health officials of the Islamic Republic to respond. The issue of rising suicide rates among healthcare personnel in Iran, especially residents, has repeatedly made headlines in the media over the past few years, particularly following the additional pressures brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The newspaper "Etemad" reported on January 17 of last year, quoting Babak Shekari, the educational and research deputy of the Medical System Organization, that within 10 months of that year, 16 medical assistants committed suicide. Last December, the Iranian Scientific Association of Psychiatrists sent a letter to Ebrahim Raisi, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, reporting the high suicide rates among residents and considering the continuation of this trend as a precursor to the "collapse of the country's health system." The authors of this letter suggested that to prevent the collapse of the health system, attention should be paid to the job security and economic status of young doctors. This association had sent two letters to the Ministry of Health, which were met with indifference from the ministry. Some civil activists on social media have noted the Ministry of Health's neglect of this issue alongside its "special" emphasis on addressing the "improper hijab" of healthcare personnel. Vahid Shari'at, the president of the Iranian Scientific Association of Psychiatrists, stated in an interview with the state news agency IRNA that the Ministry of Health has more accurate statistics on the suicides of medical residents that it does not disclose. Shari'at emphasized: "The significant issue is that whenever a problem arises, before anything else, they classify the statistics as confidential or quickly deny them." The Medical Association of Tehran University conducted a study showing that in a resident community of 204 individuals, over 93% of them, or 188 people, had experienced "burnout" and contemplated suicide. There has been a fivefold increase in suicides among Iran's medical staff; Nikisa Sarafinchin states that doctors' conditions are difficult. A student girl committed suicide due to her inability to cover university expenses. The newspaper "Etemad" reported the suicide of the main bank robber of the National Bank. A female student died due to the prevention of healthcare personnel from entering the dormitory. Protests by workers of "Darougar" and the petrochemical company "Arghavan Gostar" continue due to unemployment and delayed wages. The Independent Filmmakers Association of Iran stated that the Islamic Republic is responsible for the loss of Bahareh Allahy. A protester committed suicide after being released on bail; a political prisoner went on hunger strike in protest against the fabrication of charges. Another account of the fivefold increase in "chain suicides" in the medical community.