What’s Behind the Rise in Suicides in the Middle East?

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The number of suicides in the Middle East is on the rise. Muhammad Shukri, an analyst with BBC Monitoring says there are a number of reasons behind the rise. Terrorist attacks in countries like Tunisia and Egypt have led to economic hardship because of the impact on tourism. Another factor is conflict in places like Syria and Yemen. Older drivers are often criticised for driving too slowly, getting in the way of the rest of the traffic. And while safety measures aimed at curbing high speeds and drink driving have reduced overall accident rates, the same drops haven’t been seen in older people. Professor Lisa Keay, Deputy Director of the Injury Division at the George Institute in Sydney, Australia has been investigating how older people drive. When babies are born prematurely they need specialist care if they’re to survive and thrive – often involving incubators. But in Colombia in the late 1970s Kangaroo mother care was created – where parents hold their newborn on their chests, skin-to-skin. A new study has shown that babies given Kangaroo care grew into 20 year-olds with bigger brains who sleep better and have fewer behavioural problems than those who had incubator care alone. (Photo credit: Youssef Karwashan/AFP/Getty Images))