SUVA, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Suicide deaths in Fiji have increased from last year, especially among students, Fijian police said Friday in a statement.
Police said there has been 83 suicide cases so far this year compared to 79 for the same period last year. The country has a population of about 880,000 people.
Police urged Fijians to share their problems and learn to reach out when in need and said that there are non government organizations and religious organizations that should be tapped into.
"Youths committing suicide seem to get younger and younger by the year," said Lionel Rogers of the Fiji based Youth Champs for Mental Health.
The Pacific Islands has an escalating youth population, with 54 percent of people in the region now aged below 24, and those between 15-29 years were at the greatest risk of taking their lives.
He said contributing factors to suicide were unemployment, family and relationship problems, bullying, violence and abuse.
