QURGHON TEPPA, January 14, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- 122 suicides and 51 suicide attempts were reported in the southern province of Khatlon in 2011, Varqa Zayniddinov, an aide to the Khatlon chief prosecutor, told Asia-Plus on Saturday, January 14.

Compared to 2010, the number of suicides increased by six cases, the prosecutor noted.

Officials blame economic and family problems.

“39 of those who committed suicide last year were motivated by family and other problems and 45 others suffered from mental illness,” Zayniddinov noted.

According to him, women committed suicide in 82 cases, men committed suicide in 40 cases and minors committed suicide in 25 cases.

Last year, the Khatlon law enforcement authorities reportedly instituted 12 criminal cases involving driving to suicide.