Silent Pain and Public Policy: Suicide and Social Welfare in the Middle East and North Africa

This is an open access title available under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License. It is free to read, download and share on Elgaronline.com. This groundbreaking book sheds light on the alarming yet often overlooked issue of suicide in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. It critically examines the role, limitations, and suicide prevention strategies of existing social welfare systems and uncovers the complex interplay of factors driving suicidal behavior, including socioeconomic factors, political instability and conflict, family and social dynamics, religious beliefs and practices, gender disparities, and youth vulnerability. Front Matter Copyright Contents Contributors Preface Introduction: Navigating the Silent Pain 1. The sociology of suicide and social welfare in the Middle East and North Africa region PART I Suicide in “Politically Stable” Monarchies 2. Suicide in Morocco: a socio-legal and participatory approach 3. Suicide in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia PART II Suicide amid Political Instability and Economic Crises 4. Suicide in Tunisia beyond 2011 5. The problem of suicide in Egyptian society 6. Suicide in Lebanon amidst economic collapse, political stalemate, and societal disintegration 7. Suicide in Algeria: root causes and prospects for solutions 8. Suicide and cultural transformation in Mauritanian society PART III Suicide amid Wars and Conflicts 9. Suicide in Iraq: the interplay of economic hardship, social upheaval, and mental health 10. Suicide in Yemen: an epidemiological analysis of patterns and social determinants PART IV Public Policy and Way Forward 11. Saving lives, restoring hope: a roadmap for suicide prevention in the Middle East and North Africa region Index