SOCIOECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF SUICIDE MORTALITY AMONG YOUTH IN KAZAKHSTAN: ANALYZING THE IMPACT OF UNEMPLOYMENT

Abstract

Introduction: Suicide remains one of the pressing public health issues in Kazakhstan, significantly impacting the country's social and economic development. Premature deaths lead to considerable economic losses, estimated at 1.2% of gross domestic product (GDP), while the rising costs of treating depression highlight the need for an in-depth study of factors contributing to suicide mortality. One of the key risks in this context is the youth unemployment rate. Objective: To determine the relationship between youth unemployment rates and suicide mortality among young people in Kazakhstan from 2015 to 2023. Materials and Methods: The study is based on an analysis of secondary data collected from open sources, including statistics on mortality and unemployment among individuals aged 15 to 34. The primary methods of analysis included calculating Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients to explore the relationships between variables and building a linear regression model to determine the extent of the impact of unemployment on suicide mortality. Results: During the study period, the youth unemployment rate decreased from 4.4% in 2015 to 3.5% in 2023. Simultaneously, suicide mortality among young people declined by more than 50%, from 82.20 to 36.49 cases per 100,000 populations. Correlation analysis revealed a moderately strong positive relationship between unemployment rates and suicide mortality. Regression analysis indicated that a 1% increase in unemployment was associated with a rise of 47.87 cases of suicide mortality per 100,000 populations. Conclusions: The youth unemployment rate is a significant factor influencing suicide mortality in Kazakhstan. Comprehensive measures, including job creation and access to social and psychological resources, especially in rural areas, are necessary to reduce suicide mortality.