Family Security and Suicide Prevention: An Analytical Reading of Selected Field Indicators of Suicide in Libyan Society

Abstract

This study aimed to develop an analytical framework for family security as a preventive approach to inform national strategies for suicide prevention. It analyzed field indicators of suicide in Libyan society to identify the social, economic, and psychological characteristics of individuals who died by suicide and to examine the relationship between the dimensions of family security (social, psychological, economic, and intellectual) and the characteristics revealed by the field data. The study also sought to highlight the role of the family in suicide prevention through its functions of care, emotional support, and empowerment. The study adopted an analytical approach using the secondary data analysis method. The data were obtained from official statistics issued by the Libyan Ministry of Interior for the Greater Tripoli Municipality, covering 40 suicide cases recorded in 2022. The dataset included information on marital status, age, employment status, place of residence, physical and psychological health, unemployment and idleness, as well as social isolation and hopelessness. The findings revealed a decline in family security across its various dimensions. In particular, the results indicated insufficient psychological and emotional support within families, coupled with economic vulnerability that contributes to family conflict and persistent daily stress, thereby undermining family stability. The study concludes that strengthening family security should be considered a key component of national suicide prevention strategies. It recommends implementing psychological and educational support programs for families through educational, religious, and community institutions, as well as expanding economic support for vulnerable families and adopting social policies that mitigate socioeconomic pressures.