Prime Minister Putin contacts Governor Doyle on proposed smoking ban

Russian Mental Health Improves as Country Embraces Capitalism

Russia`s turbulent transition to a capitalist society caused a sharp deterioration in the country’s mental health, a leading psychiatrist said on Monday, the Reuters news agency reported.

Russia has the world’s second highest suicide rate after ex-Soviet Lithuania, according to figures from the World Health Organization (WHO).

WHO figures give the number of suicides per 100,000 people in Russia as 70.6 for men and 11.9 for women. By comparison, in Germany the male suicide rate is 20.2. Lithuania leads the league table with 75.6 male suicides.

However, psychological disorders have started to level off in the past few years — a period that coincided with greater political and economic stability under President Vladimir Putin.

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