By M L Satyan

Bengaluru, Sept 3, 2022: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), close to 800,000 people die by suicide every year; that is one person every 40 seconds. For each suicide, there are more than 20 suicide attempts.

While the link between suicide and mental disorders (in particular, depression and alcohol use disorders) is well established, many suicides happen impulsively in moments of crisis. Risk factors include experience of loss, loneliness, discrimination, a relationship break-up, financial problems, chronic pain and illness, violence, abuse, and conflict or other humanitarian emergencies.

The latest statistics from India’s National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) show that deaths by suicide has increased in India – by 7.2 percent from 2020 – with a total of 164,033 people dying by suicide in 2021. NCRB, which collects data from police recorded suicide cases, reveals that every year, more than 100,000 people die by suicide in the country.

Delhi reported the highest number of suicides (2,840) among Union Territories, followed by Puducherry (504). A total of 25,891 suicides were reported in the 53 megacities of the country during 2021. The most vulnerable people are the youth aged between 15-29 years, the elderly, and persons with special needs.

The NCRB categories suicide data under nine profession-wise groups: students, professional/salaried persons, daily wage earner, retired persons, unemployed persons, self-employed persons, house wife, persons engaged in farming sector and other persons.

Being an agrarian country, more than 50 percent of the population in India is reliant on agriculture. Apart from the rising farmers’ suicides in vast swathes of the country which is worrying, millions of mostly small-scale farmers have been squeezed by falling prices for their crops and the rising transportation and storage costs.

The NCRB reports mentions 5,563 agricultural laborers committed suicide last year and the number of people killing themselves in the industry increased by 9 percent from 2020, and up 29 percent from 2019. Most suicides were reported in Maharashtra with 1,424 cases, followed by Karnataka with 999, and Andhra Pradesh with 584. The suicides expose the precarious state in which the struggling farmers and impoverished agricultural laborers currently find themselves in.

The latest report by NCRB titled “Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India” shows that daily wage earners remained the largest profession-wise group among suicide victims in 2021, accounting for 42,004 suicides (25.6 percent). In other words, one in four of the recorded 1,64,033 suicide cases during 2021 was a daily wage earner. Some possible causes are Covid-19, lack of contracts, forced transition, decline in construction work and dip in daily wages etc.

Among other groups, the highest increase of 16.73 percent was recorded by “self-employed persons”: 20,231 in 2021 and 17,332 in 2020. The share of “self-employed persons” among total suicides in the country also increased to 12.3 percent in 2021 from 11.3 percent a year ago. The “unemployed persons” group was the only one that saw a decline in suicides, with the number dipping by 12.38 percent from 15,652 in 2020 to 13,714 suicides in 2021.

The “House wife” category accounted for 14.1 percent of the total suicides during 2021 – their number increased by 3.6 percent from 22,374 in 2020 to 23,179 in 2021. The report shows that the number of student suicides stood at 13,089 in 2021, up from 12,526 in 2020. In 2021, the number of suicides by “retired persons” stood at 1,518 while 23,547 suicides were recorded in the “other persons” category.

The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 decriminalizes suicide, assuring adequate medical relief to those attempting it. This is a landmark development ensuring dignity and a humane perspective to the issue. The National Mental Health Program and Health and Wellness Centres under the Ayushman Bharat Program are efforts to provide quality care at the primary health care level. Deaddiction centers and rehabilitation services are also available.

A strengthened system for quality data on suicides (attempted and deaths) from vital registration, hospital-based systems and other surveys for formulating policies and subsequent monitoring are effective suicide prevention initiatives. Strengthening life-skill training and counselling in educational institutions, workplace etc. further supplement prevention policies.

In India, pesticides, firearms, self-hanging, jumping off bridges and in front of trains are the major means by which suicide is attempted. Policies limiting access to pesticides, firearms and putting barriers on bridges and railway platforms could be some of the preventive options. In addition, counselling services and creating destigmatized platforms for discussion could be considered.

As per TIMES NOW there are many evidence-backed methods for both managing and preventing suicidal thoughts even if it feels like they are impossible to deal with as of now. According to psychologists, one in every 10 adults would consider killing himself/herself as an option at some low point in their lives.

However, there are pretty effective approaches one can take to manage suicidal thoughts and reduce their frequency. A few of them listed below are:
• Identify the triggers: It is very important to know what triggers your mental health to spiral down. Some situations and factors increase the feelings of despair and thoughts of suicide. Avoid them at all costs.
• Get treated for mental health issues: You must contact and begin your treatment for depression, anxiety, and stress which are the key factors for contemplating suicide.
• Indulge in self-care: It is very important to prioritize your mental and physical well-being and for that start with self-care. Do eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, sleep well and reduce dependency on alcohol and smoking.
• Take medicine in time: If you have been prescribed medicines, make sure to take them as directed by the doctor. If the medications are not working, do inform them since stopping midway through the treatment can cause more harm.
• Follow a routine: It is very important to formulate and follow a particular daily routine as much as possible, even when the feelings go out of control. Do wake up early in the mornings, sleep early, and plan your daily activities.
• Socialize: Human being is a social animal and it is important for mental well-being to meet people and socialize. Do catch up with family and friends, take hobby classes, watch movies and go for lunch and dinners to feel better and rejuvenated.

Let us create awareness among the common people on this burning issue. Prevention is better than cure.