Suicide epidemic in Micronesia

The Suicide Epidemic in Micronesia refers to the sudden acceleration of individual suicide cases between 1960 and 1987, in the Pacific islands of Micronesia. Located in the North-western region of the Pacific ocean, the islands of Palau, Yap, Ponape, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, Kiribati and Truk had collectively experienced at least 532 deaths of mainly young men, over a 27 year period. Initiatives in providing explanations for this peculiar and morbid social phenomenon were originally lead by anthropologist Donald Rubinstein. Early research shows that suicide in Micronesia was an extremely rare occurrence until 1960 where they first experienced six male deaths that year, with rates continuing to accelerate through the 1970s at 10.8 deaths per 100,000 people. At its peak, Micronesia recorded a rate of 28.2 suicides per 100,000 people for one year at the onset of the 1980s.

Interestingly, suicides are seemingly provoked by trivial inconveniences the victim was exposed to moments before. This is one reason that this epidemic has attracted many sociopsychological theories as to why this dramatic trend in suicide occurred and is still occurring today.

A member from the Marshall Islands recalls:

"Fifteen years ago when there was a suicide, people would talk and talk about it. But now it seems that there is a suicide nearly every month and it's hardly news."