Ministry of Health figures show that suicide rate among immigrants in the USSR is 7.1 times higher and among Ethiopian immigrants 4 times • 82% of suicide bombers are men, many are divorced

• Illustration // Photo: GettyImages

A new report by the Ministry of Health on suicide in Israel released Monday shows that the rate of suicide by age among former Soviet immigrants is 7.1 times higher than that of native-born Jews. In addition, the rate of suicide among Ethiopian immigrants is four times higher than the general population rate in recent years. .

According to the report, which presents data on suicides in 2000-2016, and suicide attempts from 2004-2017, the highest suicide rate among both sexes (women and men) is 75 years and older. However, the suicide rate is declining from 2003 to 2003 Today, in 2016, there were 390 suicides, 321 among men and 69 among women.

Illustration // Photo: GettyImages

Other data from the report show that suicide rates among Jews and others are three times higher than the average rate among Arabs in 2014-2016. However, the rate of suicide attempts among Arab women has been declining in recent years, compared with an increase in Arab men.

Another important figure is the difference between married and unmarried: the suicide rate among married people is lower than divorced and single. In 2016-2012, about one-third of all divorced men who committed suicide were fathers of children up to age 18.

The Ministry of Health emphasizes that they "aim to maintain the declining trend in suicides in recent years, especially at young ages, by continuing prevention programs in general and young people in particular."

Illustration // Photo: GettyImages

Despite what the Ministry of Health stresses, a letter published in Israel Today about six months ago shows that in recent years, the budget allocated for the implementation of the program from the Ministry of Finance to the Ministry of Health - does not reach its destination and does not fully "permeate" the offices that handle the field and need money. As a result, they are forced to reduce their activity in the field anyway.

According to a study conducted by the ministry, 30% of suicide bombers in Israel were previously psychiatric in hospital, and 75% of suicide bombers have backgrounds of mental health problems. Sequence and availability of these are critical, so there is a need to continue to increase the availability of mental health services following the reform of the field.