Iranian Nurse Dies by Suicide at Hospital Amid Pressure

A 32-year-old Iranian nurse took his own life at a hospital in western Kermanshah on Tuesday. 

Sasan worked at the hospital's poisoning department, which specializes in treating suicide attempts. 

His friends and colleagues reported that he ended his life due to mental pressure following the non-renewal of his contract and subsequent unemployment.

Mohammad Sharifi Moghadam, Secretary General of the Nurses' House, confirmed the news and highlighted the concerning trend of suicidal tendencies among medical personnel. 

Sharifi Moghadam cited research conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, which found that over 27 percent of nurses reported suicidal thoughts.

He emphasized that these suicides extend beyond the pandemic period and blamed the poor working conditions of nurses. 

He said, "The field is stressful for nurses, and all officials share responsibility for creating such an atmosphere."

For years, nurses in Iran have voiced their frustrations about overwhelming workloads, inadequate compensation and a shortage of employment opportunities, but their demands have largely remained unanswered.

The misallocation of resources by the government, including the recent hiring and deployment of officers to crack down on women not wearing the mandatory headscarf, has created a system that undervalues the crucial role played by nurses, contributing to their mass migration.