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AMMAN — From 2014 to 2018, 605 cases of suicide were recorded in Jordan, with the figure exponentially increasing each year, according to figures published in the Jordan Statistical Yearbook 2018, produced by the Department of Statistics.

“The topic is controversial”, psychiatrist and addiction specialist Maen Abki told The Jordan Times on Tuesday, noting that there are many contributing factors to suicide, but, generally speaking, at least 75 per cent of people who commit suicide have had symptoms of depression. 

Besides depression, Abki said studies show that 10 per cent of patients with schizophrenia are vulnerable to committing suicide. He noted that alcohol and drug addiction, which are mental illnesses, are also among the general causes of suicide. 

With regards to economic factors, Abki added that the main cause of suicide is unemployment, while on a biological level, people with chronic diseases, cancers, and generally those who are in chronic pain are more prone to suicide.

"Even those with a life that is going well might face a sudden stressful situation, such as the loss of a loved one, and the trauma might lead them to want to commit suicide," Abki said, adding that there are also social reasons at play, as single and divorced people are more prone to suicide than those in a relationship. 

In cases of severe depression and schizophrenia, delusions and hallucinations can lead a person to commit suicide, the psychiatrist said, adding that this can include the feeling of being watched, feeling guilty and as if doing something wrong or imagining things that are untrue, such as being dead or limbless.

When asked about the reason for the increase in suicide rates over the past five years, Abki said that he believes that in general, society's stigma towards mental care and psychiatry leaves patients untreated, meaning that their depression could go from mild to severe with an increased probability of eventually committing suicide. 

Abki encourages families to seek mental care in order to receive necessary treatment and hospitalisation before conditions worsen. 

Abki noted that it is also important to realise that some people inflict self-harm without the intention of suicide, but end up mistakenly killing themselves, which is why all cases should be taken seriously. 

"I think it is very important that every psychiatrist ask his or her patient if they are having suicidal thoughts," Abki said, adding that "the question is not asked enough out of fear of incepting the idea in the patient's head, but the truth is if the patient is not considering suicide, the question will not do so."

Awni Abu Halimah, consultant psychiatrist and addiction treatment specialist, concurred with Abki’s statement, as he also told The Jordan Times on Tuesday that depression is the leading cause of suicide.

Abu Halimah said that the symptoms of those suffering from depression can range from a gloomy mood, to being sad all the time and wanting to cry, seeing the world through  dark lenses, and feeling completely alone and isolated in the world.

Abu Halimah said that depression knows no age boundaries, and could happen to anyone regardless of their age, but did highlight how nowadays, it is most common among people in their 20s and 30s. 

When asked for his personal analysis of why suicide rates have increased in more recent years, Abu Halimah said that the main cause is economic and financial conditions, as, for example, if a parent is unable to support their children, they may see suicide as the only option.

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah, in a phone call, has checked on the health of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah after a recent medical check-up, a Royal Court statement said on Tuesday.

King Abdullah wished Sheikh Sabah continued good health and well-being, according to the statement.

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister of Qatar and Minister of State for Defence Affairs Khalid Bin Mohammed Al Attiyah received Jordanian Ambassador to Qatar Zeid Lozi over furthering the two countries' bilateral ties.

This meeting is part of a series of meetings conducted by the newly appointed envoy with top Qatari officials, according to a Foreign Ministry statement. 

AMMAN — The number of British tourists visiting the Kingdom increased by 24 per cent to reach 37,000 tourists by the end of August, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Majd Shweikeh said on Tuesday.

The UK travel firm Thomas Cook’s bankruptcy had “little effect” on Jordan, she added, noting that UK market indicators are growing with no risks to Jordan, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Commenting on Thomas Cook's announcement of its insolvency last Monday, Abed Al Razzaq Arabiyat, managing director of the Jordan Tourism Board, said that the board has no agreements with the company, which would not affect arrivals to Jordan. 

AMMAN — The Foreign Ministry and the Jordanian embassy in Moscow are following up on the stabbing of a Jordanian student in Ukraine, the head of the Foreign Ministry’s Operations Centre Sufian Qudah said on Tuesday.

Qudah noted that Ukrainian authorities have been contacted for details on the crime, according to a Foreign Ministry statement. The Foreign Ministry’s operations centre and the Jordanian embassy in Moscow have been providing the necessary assistance and consulate  services, Qudah said, adding that measures have been taken to ensure the Jordanian receives the required medical attention. 

AMMAN —  Around 2.7 million citizens old enough to marry are single in Jordan, according to a report published by the Sisterhood Is Global Institute.

The report is based on a 2018 survey of marital status by the Department of Statistics.

Despite the institute’s publicity and them persistently voicing their objections to the marriage age in Jordan, those of 15 years or older were still considered of “marrying age”, given the law in Jordan.

Of the 2.7 million singles, around 1.1 million were women and 1.6 million were men.

On social media, the phrasing of words, both in the report and news websites, reading “One Million Unmarried Women in Jordan”, angered activists.

“Why is the media talking about unmarried women, even though according to the report they may be no more than 15 years, as spinsters? Why is the title not ‘1.6 Million Unmarried Men in Jordan’?” asked Alaa Saadi, a member of the He for She campaign.

Maram Salloum, an active university student in the field of women empowerment, also questioned the phrasing of the media headlines by saying: “Shouldn’t the media be using this report to talk about the reasons why women and men are not able to get married, such as the difficult economic situation Jordan is in, instead of using it to spread sexism and backwards mentality?”

Balqa had the highest number of single males and females with around 36 per cent of females and 48 per cent of males being single, according to the report.

Jerash, on the other hand, had the lowest percentage of single females, while Aqaba had the lowest rate of single males.

Activists condemned the use of the word “spinster” when referring to unmarried women, calling it “offensive” and “degrading”.

AMMAN — The second batch of reimbursements for traders who incurred damages during last winter’s floods in downtown Amman will be distributed this week, Amman Chamber of Commerce (ACC) President Khalil Hajj Tawfiq said on Sunday.

The batch will be distributed to around 30 traders, Tawfiq told The Jordan Times over the phone, noting that the first allotment was distributed to almost all 120 traders affected. The few who have not been paid are abroad and will receive their payment upon return, he added. 

The ACC will be responsible for distributing the final amount, Tawfiq said, noting that the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) has tasked officers from its financial team to expedite the process of reviewing the traders' files.

In mid-August, GAM and the ACC said that they would reimburse the traders with a total of JD3 million; JD2 million of which would be supplied by GAM, while the remaining JD1 million will be contributed by the ACC.

In March, heavy rain flooded downtown Amman and caused “extensive damage”, prompting citizens to express their frustration over the country’s “poor” infrastructure.

At the time, several committees were formed as a response in order to investigate the causes of the flooding and shortcomings that led to the losses.

At the time of the incident, GAM said that the “unprecedented” rainfall had led to soil erosion in the capital’s Jabal Al Joufeh area and manhole closures in Quraish Street in downtown Amman.

AMMAN — Senate President Faisal Fayez called for setting clear strategies and mechanisms to instil a culture of coexistence and acceptance through partnerships that unify efforts towards serving the common interests of Eurasian Countries.

Delivering a speech during the Kazakh-held Fourth Meeting of Speakers of the Eurasian Countries' Parliaments titled "Greater Eurasia", which includes 90 speakers from parliaments and parliamentary organisations from Asia and Europe, Fayez highlighted that collective efforts based on trust and respect would help overcome global chaos caused by violation of international law.

He also called on the gathering to effectively collaborate to achieve the aims of the meeting, which covers building trust and bolstering partnerships and cooperation among Eurasian countries.

Talks also touched on the Kingdom's support for the Gulf Cooperation Council's efforts, mainly those initiated by Saudi Arabia to maintain regional security and stability, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He also touched upon the Kingdom’s humanitarian role in shouldering the burden of hosting some 1.3 million Syrian refugees on behalf of the international community, amid economic hardships caused by regional conflicts.

He asserted that doing so is “not a favour”, but a moral, humanitarian and legal duty.

Meanwhile, during his participation in the meetings, Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh said that regional development and stability cannot be achieved while certain "states and entities" refuse to abide by the international legitimacy resolutions.

The prospects of Eurasian partnerships and cooperation has previously been hindered by proxy wars, Tarawneh said, as he called on the gathering to push for the two-state solution as a secured way of peace that would guarantee the establishment of the Palestinian state.

Tarawneh also lauded Kazakhstan's efforts towards nuclear disarmament, urging that capabilities are utilised to achieve sustainable development and economic integration, along with bettering investment environments, rather than fuelling tensions.

Highlighting the importance of the Silk Route, Tarawneh drew attention to the need for legislative ground rules in order to ease cooperation, Petra added.

Tarawneh met with his Kazakh counterpart Nurlan Nigmatulin, Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar and Kazakh Minister of Agriculture Saparkhan Omarov over advancing joint cooperation in various fields.

Sklyar has pledged that a new cargo route between Jordan and Kazakhstan will be ready within 10 days.

AMMAN  — The Ministry of Labour has announced new regulations aimed at addressing the issue of illegal workers in the Kingdom.

Minister of Labour Nidal Bataineh recently said that the 2019 Work Permits for Non-Jordanians Regulations would come into effect on Sunday to rectify the status of illegal labourers in the Kingdom.

The minister stated that, according to the new regulations, no work permits shall be issued for guest workers in professions that only accept Jordanians.

Bataineh continued that the violating labourers will "only be given two months to rectify their situation", stressing that "no grace period will be given beyond that deadline".

The minister warned that if illegal labourers do not rectify their situation, they will be deported immediately and incur fines.

The minister added that any violating labourers who do not wish to rectify their situation "are welcome to leave the Kingdom during the two-month period without paying any fines or additional fees".

The minister said that Egyptian workers who possess an expired passport and wish to renew their work permit in Jordan are allowed to do so as long as they can provide official documents proving that they are in the process of passport renewal.

Bataineh added that the 2019 regulations also aim to regulate the fees that non-Jordanians pay, adding that the fee has been unified to JD500 for a number of sectors. 

The minister noted that the permit fee for domestic workers has been reduced from JD600 to JD500.

Officials have estimated that approximately 600,000 of the 900,000 labourers in the Kingdom do not have valid working permits.

On the agriculture sector, Bataineh noted that "due to the sector’s importance to the Jordanian economy, the ministry decided to waive all previous fines imposed on foreign workers".

Meanwhile, construction workers will only have to pay 80 per cent of the work permit fees, stated the minister.

As for the Aqaba Economic Zone, the minister said that the violating visiting labourers will be obliged to pay only 50 per cent of the work permit fees.

AMMAN — Foreign Ministry Secretary General Saja Majali on Tuesday accepted the credentials of the newly appointed ambassador of the Republic of San Marino Igor Bellichari as an accredited and non-resident ambassador to the Kingdom.

During a meeting after the ceremony, Majali expressed her wishes for success to the new ambassador, voicing keenness to further develop ties between Jordan and San Marino, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.