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Individuals who attempt in willÌýfaceÌýprison and fines under a new draft law approved on Monday,ÌýJordan'sÌýRoya News reported on Tuesday.

Medical professionals and activists criticised the proposed law, calling it "cruel", while some noted thatÌýthe decisionÌýshows that mental health awareness was "much needed" in the Arab world.

Parliament in approved a law to sentence to jail persons who attempt telling us much about the reforms needed in the and highlighting again that and its National continue to set a role model example in many fields

— Mia Atoui (@MiaAtoui)

The decision was made following a number of amendments made to Penal Code by the House of Representatives, in a parliamentary session chaired by parliament speaker Abdel Karim Al-DughmiÌýon Monday.

The punishment will include a sentence for those who attempt suicide in a public space of up to six months in jail, or a fine of 100 Jordanian dinars ($141), or both.

The also specifiesÌýthat the punishment will be more severe in cases ofÌý "mass suicide", according to Roya News.

Instead of finding out what brings someone to consider suicide.. instead of spreading awareness, and facilitating treatment, Jordan's government introduced a policy to imprison and charge people who attempt suicide.

I am out of words.

— Farah Aqqad (@farahaqqad)

The kingdom has witnessed an increase in suicide rates over the past decade, with 2020 being the worst on record, reported Jordan News.

An , exacerbated by as well as more repressive political conditions, can be seen as factors for the risingÌýrates,Ìýa Human Rights Watch researcher has said.

Earlier this year, nine Jordanian men threatened to , citing unemployment.

The men, who were recent university graduates, threatened to kill themselvesÌýif their demands for employment by the government were not met.

Suicide is considered a crime in some 20 countries including Nigeria, Bangladesh and The Bahamas, as of 2021.