Criticism of the Educational System for Increasing Child Suicides in Iran

Two newspapers in Iran have warned about the "educational and familial collapse" in the country, reporting an increase in suicide rates among Iranian students. The newspaper "Rozan" implied that the suicide of 111 children in Iran between 2002 and 2004 was due to the "humiliation" these children faced at school and criticized Iran's educational system. The newspaper "Jahan San'at" also reported on January 3rd about "the suicides of several students and children under 16 in various cities across the country." This newspaper stated that some students are unable to bear the "pressures" from family and school simultaneously, and since they do not know how to communicate their needs to their parents or teachers, they engage in bizarre actions, including suicide. In its January 7th issue, "Rozan" examined details of a report announced in October by Fatemeh Daneshvar, head of the Social Committee of the Tehran City Council. According to the Mehr News Agency, Ms. Daneshvar reported in a press conference on World Children's Day that 111 children had committed suicide in Iran over three years. This member of the Tehran City Council stated that "more than 50 percent" of these suicides occurred due to "social harms and lack of social and psychological security." "Rozan" also noted that these children, unable to "untie the knots of their problems," have "sought refuge in death." The newspaper referenced two cases of suicide where "humiliation" by a teacher and "pressure" from the school for money from parents were the causes. "Rozan" further analyzed the educational system's performance in preventing student suicides, stating that "the educational system still does not believe in sharing psychological education and classes in this area." The newspaper warned that "if policymakers and educational and social authorities do not think about providing practical solutions, students suffering from mental illnesses will find themselves in an even worse situation in society." Suicide statistics in Iran, as reported by official institutions and authorities, are on the rise, and the scope has extended to children. Ahmad Shojaei, head of the Legal Medicine Organization, announced on August 17, 2014, that the suicide rate in Iran in 2013 was 4,055. Hossein Ghanbarnejad, a representative of the Strategic Deputy of the Judiciary, announced in November that the provinces of Ilam, Kermanshah, and Kurdistan had the highest suicide rates in 2014. This year, Iranian media have published multiple reports of suicides in these three provinces, including several children. One of these suicides involved a 10-year-old child in Oshnaviyeh, West Azerbaijan Province, due to "lack of money." Young Journalists Club also reported on the suicide of a student from Bafq County in Yazd Province due to "academic issues" and a ninth-grade girl in the same province due to "conflict with her father." According to this report, the first student hanged themselves, and the second student jumped from an apartment.