Israel and Mexico – happier but less suicidal
The 2015 World Happiness Report was published last week indexing happiness in 158 countries of the world. Israel was found as one of the happiest countries in the world in the 11th place. But happiness has also a price – in many of the happiest countries of the world the suicide rate is relatively high – maybe the pain hurts more when expectations are high. I compared the happiness index with the world suicide index and found that Israel and Mexico are exceptional in the world – happier but less suicidal. Three possible explanations: 1. underestimation of suicide rates in Israel and Mexico; 2. no expectations less pain – you expect more when living in Switzerland or Denmark, you don't expect to be too happy in Israel and Mexico; 3. relatively higher family / social / community support in Israel and Mexico.
