Suicidal Behavior in Tunisia

In this chapter, the authors review the main studies on suicidal behavior in Tunisia, a country situated in North Africa, and the preventive actions that have been carried out. It appears that the rate of suicide increased after the 2011 revolution, triggered by the suicidal self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi, a young day-labourer protesting the harsh living conditions. Since then, changes in suicidal behavior have been noted, first of all a significant increase in self-immolation, which has become a frequent means of suicide in young male adults, and second the rejuvenation of suicidal behavior, with an increase of suicide attempts in pre-adolescents. Since 2011, copycat effects have been observed, responsible for waves of suicide by contagion. Although a national suicide prevention strategy does not yet exist, several preventive actions have been implemented such as the training of primary health care professionals, media awareness training to improve responsible media coverage of suicide, and postvention measures. Developing a multisectoral strategy and implementing both surveillance systems for self-harm behaviors and national statistics of suicide are major challenges for the future.