Suicide Alert: Suicide Rates in India Are Getting High
Suicide is a global problem. In India, suicide rates are increasing day by day due to unbalanced lifestyles, teenage issues, unemployment, and much more. The biggest reason why suicides happen remains unexplored, as there is not a single reason why suicides happen and lack of proper suicide awareness. The correct data cannot be 100% accurate, as many suicide cases are not reported or avoided. However, as per the data that is recorded, these numbers are not small.
If this article triggers suicidal thoughts or you think that you have the symptoms, then please contact National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Also, for support and assistance from a trained mental health awareness advisor, contact the nearest suicide prevention organization!
Current Scenario of Suicides in India:
India has the highest suicide rates in South-East Asia. The present suicide rate in India is 10.3. Recently, suicide rates are increased by 43%. This number seems very disturbing as suicides (37.8%) in India are by those below the age of 30 years. Almost 1 Lakh people lost their lives in India due to suicides. Out of these numbers, Indian women’s suicide rates in India are quite big as compared to men with different suicide reasons such as poisoning, hanging, and self-immolation. One in 60 people is either affected by the suicide of their close friend or family or has committed suicide. So, it’s not just a mental health problem but a lack of providing proper mental health awareness as well.
In India, suicide is an emerging problem. India reported the highest number of suicides in the world with a 7.2% increase in suicides by 2021 as compared to 2020. According to suicide data for 2021, these 5 states have the most contribution to almost half of the total suicides: Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Karnataka.
Factors Contributing to the Increasing Suicides in India:
There is not a single reason behind suicides in India. Social factors are the most common reasons. These includes:
| Cause of Suicide | Percentage as per total data |
| Drug abuse/alcohol addiction | 5.6 |
| Marital Issues | 5.5 |
| Relationship Issues especially Love | 4.5 |
| Debt | 4.2 |
| Unemployment | 2.0 |
| Family Issues | 32.4 |
| Professional Issues | 1.2 |
| Affected by the death of close friends or family | 0.9 |
| Property related issues | 1.1 |
| Poverty | 0.8 |
| Social Issues | 0.4 |
| Infertility | 0.3 |
| Illicit relationships | 0.5 |
| Unknown Causes | 10.3 |
| Other reasons | 11.1 |
| Health issues | 17.1 |
Role of Age and Gender and Suicide Causes in India:
When we talk about the age that is more affected by suicides and thus commits the same, then the age groups 18–30 and 30–45 years accounted for 35.1% and 31.8% of suicides in India. According to 2019 data, young adults account for 67% of deaths in India. It is sad to hear that the future of a country is coping with health problems at a much larger rate than any other age group in India. Youth suicide rates are increasing day by day when compared with the suicide rate in 2018.
When estimated that which gender has the increasing suicide rates in India, then, according to 2021, the male-to-female ratio of suicide victims was 72.5: 27.4. Male suicides, however, were large in number as compared to female suicides. Most of the female suicides were caused due to marriage-related issues such as infertility, dowry, and domestic violence. Male suicides were mostly due to unemployment, debt-related issues, or professional problems.
These numbers are shockingly very disappointing as we are still not able to completely get rid of this problem. This is a very sensitive issue and thus its prevention is more complicated than others.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 800,000 people commit suicide every year in the world. India stands third in the female suicide rate despite all the measures and suicide prevention programs. The high suicide rate in India is a public health problem and calls for immediate action and measures.
Types of Suicidal thoughts leading to Suicides in India:
There are two types of suicidal thoughts –
1) Passive thoughts: These thoughts occur instantly and are not pre-planned or systematic. Such people are already dealing with a lot of anxiety and depression issues and thus passive actions are their first preference.
2) Active thoughts: These thoughts are pre-planned. Such people know how to end their life and thus prepare themselves to complete the plan.
Many people are unaware of the symptoms they are coping with and thus they don’t even know the initial stage when such thoughts start. Thus, it is very important to know the symptoms of suicide, especially in a country like India, where there is no stoppage to such problems. Some people have both active and passive suicidal thoughts and, thus, sometimes they just do things in their way.
Some Common Symptoms of Suicidal Thoughts:
1) Having regular mood swings, such as being emotionally unstable one day and deeply disappointed with their life on a secondary day.
2) Feeling anxious and lonely at the same time.
3) Change in the sleeping and eating patterns.
4) Buying things related to suicide or slowly ending it like blades, pills, drugs, rope, etc.
5) Talking negatively most of the time and feeling left out at an extreme level like talking about death.
6) Trapped in an environment of death and violence in a family or nearby.
7) Such people often have symptoms of either complete silence or extremely violent on a large scale.
8) Consumption of alcohol or drugs regularly.
9) Experiencing recent trauma or life crisis related to the loss of a close friend or family.
10) Such people choose to be alone and avoid friends or social appearances. They also slowly are no longer interested in or find pleasure in activities they previously enjoyed.
So, these were the common suicide symptoms. There are a lot of other reasons leading to suicides, but these are the most evident ones. People dealing with such issues usually have no control over their emotions. In India, for example, most married commit suicide due to marital issues. This is not a new reason as 1 out of 5 women can be seen dealing with family problems.
Now as we have talked about all the symptoms and statistics, there is a question that whether these suicides can be prevented!
Well of course yes, the best way to prevent suicide and raise suicide awareness is to first acknowledge the fact the signs or symptoms of suicide. Depression is the key factor related to suicide. So, if you are dealing with it or see someone with a depression issue, then it’s always good to talk. Such people need proper support and care in their life. People are less likely to react to social impulses when they are close to people who care for them.
The year 2021 was no doubt one of the most disturbing years. In India, there was a job crisis, increasing health problems, and much more. As many as 50 people in India commit suicide every week due to career or workplace problems. During the last 2 pandemic years, one in four suicides includes daily wage earners, with over 42,000 cases reported in 2021. Daily wage earners accounted for the highest suicide deaths in 2020, also at 37,666 out of 1.5 lakh. If we start calculating other numbers such as women suicides due to family issues, and male death due to workplace problems, then the number just keeps increasing. Statistics are always measured at the finest level, but there is no perfect way to stop the rising numbers.
It’s not a common problem related to middle or low-income people but suicides are very frequent in high-income earning people too.
Suicide Prevention Helplines in India to Ask for Help:
1) Aasra –
Call time: 24*7
Contact number: 022 27546669
Email: aasrahelpline@yahoo.com
2) Kiran –
Call time: 24*7
Contact number: 1800 599 0019
3) VANDREVALA FOUNDATION –
Call time: 24*7
Contact number: 9999 666 555
Email: help@vandrevalafoundation.com
4) Sneha India –
Call time: 24*7
Contact number: 044 24640050
Email: help@snehaindia.org
5) One Life
Call time: 24*7
Contact number: 7893078930
Email: onelifehelpline@hotmail.com
Final Words on the Suicide Rates in India
I hope this blog was helpful for the readers. Suicide is not a one-day mission and accepting the symptoms take a lot of courage. With proper medication, it can be avoided. All we have to do is stay strong for the people who love us and support us. Only the people who face suicides nearby can understand how hard it is to lose someone they have known and loved. Before taking any harsh steps contact suicide prevention helplines or any loved one and tell them about your issue. Don’t be on a run to end your life just because you find it hard to stay strong today. Because your past can be worse, your present can be bad but your future will be the best if you deal with it in the right manner. A positive mindset is the best way to stay calm so stay strong, positive, and happy!
