Suicidal Behavior in Lebanon

Lebanon is a country with a complex geopolitical and socioeconomic landscape. Decades of political, social, and economic turmoil, compounded by the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the explosion disaster in Beirut, and other stressors, have added a tremendous burden on its healthcare system and left a massive toll on the mental health of its population. In this chapter, we examine the current literature on mental health in Lebanon and suicide. We assess the impact of recent stressors and provide a narrative summary of the epidemiology of suicidal behaviors in different sub-populations, surveillance systems, and local monitoring. We then look at the legal status of suicide and the social stigma associated with it, and discuss current opportunities and initiatives, focusing on Embrace, a non-governmental organization that operates the National Helplife for Suicide Prevention and Emotional Support. We conclude this chapter by discussing the remaining gaps and avenues for development.