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The BBC reports in a surprising drop in the country’s overall level of happiness — because after all, three suicides in the last week alone aren’t exactly a great indicator of things.
The news service adds: “The country’s main newspaper, Kuensel, says that in January there were 15 suicides and seven in February.”
That’s no good for a country that purports to be the promoter of Gross National Happiness.
So the question is why?
“People tend to commit suicide when they lack the social skills to cope with stress,” psychiatrist DK Nirola told Kuensel [a major Bhutanese newspaper].
He said that old age, unemployment and depression are the most common causes of suicide which is far higher among males than females.
However excessive alcohol consumption, money worries and mental illness are also thought to be significant factors.
[via FP Passport]
