JEDDAH: Despite being taught that God punishes most severely those who commit suicide, some people, because of pressure and stress, nonetheless do so.

According to a recent Ministry of Interior statement, there were 295 cases of suicide in the Kingdom last year. The statement added that 259 were men and 36 were women. Among the men, 134 were Saudis and 125 were expatriates. There were 266 suicide cases in 2006, out of which 100 were Saudis and 166 expatriates.

According to research on suicide, women usually commit suicide by milder means such as overdosing on pills or drinking a toxic household product, while men hang themselves, overdose or, in some cases, shoot themselves. Many suicides committed by Saudi men have their roots in financial problems.

Earlier this year, a renowned 50-year-old history and culture professor at Makkah’s Umm Al-Qura University committed suicide at his home, shocking his students, friends and family.

Nasser Al-Harithy, the author of 30 books and 70 research papers, apparently hanged himself with a noose made from his headdress. Security forces found his body hanging from a ceiling fan in his office. Despite the mystery around the incident, it was reported that he was an estimated SR8 million in debt.

At the same time, women commit suicide for emotional reasons, such as the loss of a loved one or being forced into marrying someone.

In May, a girl in her late 20s committed suicide two weeks before her scheduled wedding. It was reported by police that she hanged herself with a scarf. Although the reason behind her suicide was not revealed, her parents admitted that she had been suffering from many psychological problems.

Dr. Saad Al-Khateeb, a senior consultant at Jeddah Psychiatric Hospital. said suicide should be differentiated from attempted suicide.

“In attempted suicide, the person fortunately fails to end his life after genuinely trying,” said Al-Khateeb.

He said the reasons behind suicide or attempted suicide spring from the idea that life is not worth living which leads to death wishes and finally to suicide. “If the person doesn’t die, then it is called attempted suicide but if the victim succeeds in ending his life, we call it suicide,” Al-Khateeb said.

Attempted suicides are more common among young women and are considered a loud cry for help and attention.

Rana, who requested anonymity, said that she had attempted to commit suicide twice by taking different kinds of antibiotics and painkillers.

“I was 17, had lost someone I loved and my parents were getting a divorce. My mother rushed me to a clinic next to my house where they immediately gave me medications to make me throw up,” she said. “My mother begged them not to report the incident to the police even though this is the law when someone tries to commit suicide,” she added.

A lack of religious conviction, being unemployed and divorced or widowed are also reasons which might lead to suicide, Al-Khateeb explained.

“Psychiatric problems are evident in about 90 percent of victims. Drug and alcohol-abuse, depression and schizophrenia are the most common psychiatric problems,” he added.

The surprising fact about suicide is that a higher rate is found among educated people such as doctors, lawyers, police officers and hotel owners.

“Both the higher and lower classes have higher rates compared to the middle class. Rates among prisoners are three times higher than in the general population,” Al-Khateeb said.

He suggested that psychiatric or mental health care should be provided just as other health services are through the usual referral system that already exists. “Psychiatrists should be able to deal with difficult or severe cases in order to provide good quality services,” he added.

Al-Khateeb also believes that the role of the religious community in reducing suicide is vital. “Religious figures should guide people to the concept of self satisfaction and acceptance, hence reducing low self-esteem and hopelessness that might lead to a wish for death,” he explained.

Misfar Al-Qahtani, a religious scholar, said no matter how hard the pressure gets, people should always seek Allah’s guidance and help. “Praying regularly gives a spiritual power that gives them patience and self-control to bear their daily lives,” said Al-Qahtani.

He described suicide as one of the most disturbing crimes and biggest sins a person can commit. He quoted a saying by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) saying that God would punish those who take their lives with the same tool they killed themselves with.

“A person’s life is owned by God and it’s a gift to the human being. Whatever happens to the person in this life is destined by God and only He could help,” he said, adding that God can relieve a person from the pressures of worldly life.