Rising Suicides in Mosul and Shingal Reflect Deepening Social Crisis

Mosul and Shingal are facing a troubling rise in suicide cases, revealing the growing psychological and social distress among residents — particularly young people still bearing the weight of war, displacement, and poverty.

A recent report from the Forensic Medicine Institute in Mosul documented 84 suicides between January and September 2025, including 40 women and 44 men. Among them were 18 Ezidis — 8 women and 10 men — though the report did not clarify whether these cases originated from Mosul or Shingal.

Local figures from Êzîdxan’s Public Security Research Authority paint a similarly alarming picture: 16 individuals, including 10 men and 6 women, took their own lives in Shingal during the same period. Most of the victims were between 17 and 25 years old, with one case involving a 16-year-old boy.

According to the available data, social pressures, unresolved trauma, and the increasing influence of digital media have become major contributing factors. The rising numbers highlight a deepening mental health crisis that continues to affect the Ezidi people and other minorities still struggling to rebuild their lives after years of violence and instability.