Authorities sound warning as three suicides recorded in Diyala within 24 hours

DIYALA — Local authorities warned Tuesday of a rise in suicides among young people in Diyala governorate after three cases were recorded within 24 hours, prompting calls for urgent action.

Salah Mahdi Saleh, head of the Human Rights Commission office in Diyala, said the trend is alarming. “The rise in suicide rates among youth represents a dangerous indicator that requires urgent government and societal action to identify the real causes of this phenomenon and address them in ways that limit it and protect the most vulnerable groups,” he said.

According to a security source who spoke to 964media, the three cases were reported in different areas of the governorate. One involved a young man from the Tahrir area in Sikka. Another involved a student born in 2010 in the Bahraz subdistrict who took his life after failing exams. The third involved a female student from the Tahrir area in al-Jahiza.

Diyala Police Command said it is monitoring what it described as a growing trend, calling it “a phenomenon that is foreign to our society and our core values based on solidarity and family and social cohesion.” The police urged families to strengthen their supervisory role, monitor their children’s behavior and pay attention to any psychological changes. They also warned of applications and online content that “may exploit low awareness or pass dangerous ideas.”

The public was urged to report suspicious content or activity threatening youth safety by calling emergency number 911.

If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available. The Iraqi mental health helpline can be reached through local health centers and hospitals across the country.