Suicide is an appalling and inopportune loss of human life, all the more shattering and baffling because it is a conscious volitional act.
India boasts of the dubious distinction of being the suicide capital of the world. Suicide in the young is a major public health concern in India. A young Indian commits suicide every eight minutes, dealing a blow to family, society, the economy and future of the country. Unfortunately, 41% of all suicides are by young people below the age of 30. Suicide is the leading cause of mortality for young women in India.
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reveals that 1.71 lakh people committed suicide in 2022. The suicide rate has escalated to 12.4 per 1,00,000 – the highest rate ever recorded in India. Because of an inadequate registration system, the lack of medical certification of death, stigma and other factors these data are understated.
There is no single factor. It is futile to unearth a single causative factor of suicide, a complex human behaviour.. Suicide in young people is the consequence of interaction between familial, psychological, biological, and social cultural aspects. According to the latest report of adolescent suicides in India the most commonly reported risk factors were social and lifestyle factors (20%), violence (22%), mental health problems (54%), negative or traumatic family issues (36%), economic distress (9.1%), relationship factors (9%) and academic stress (23%). The causes of youth suicide are examination failure, intergenerational conflicts, physical and sexual abuse, , parental pressures and caste discrimination.
Failure in examinations compelled 2,095 people to suicide in 2022. Suicides are triggered by a system of education with an accentuation on scoring marks, and a one-point examination system, along with parental pressure and high expectation from oneself and the educational institutions. An extremely emotionally wrought state is effectuated by a cut-throat competition to get into colleges, media hype around results, the disgrace associated with failure, and months of smothered pressure and emotions. Many students have taken such an extreme step because of competitive examinations. Lamentably, academic pressure has led to many suicides despite students’ having acquired coveted seats in esteemed professional colleges. Suicide among young girls and women are wrought by specific sociocultural factors: domestic violence and economic dependence, Arranged and early marriages, rigid gender roles, discrimination, young motherhood, and low social status.
There has been a glaring increase in Internet use among the young in the last 15 years. One third of young people are cyber-bullied. And of this sub-set, one third are suicidal. Horrifyingly, teenagers using social media for more than two hours a day are more suicidal. According to the meta analysis from 19 States of India almost 20% of college students are net addicts. Alcohol and substance use contribute to youth suicides.
Vulnerable young people are adversely impacted by the media. When the suicide is sensationalized by the media, it is followed by increased suicidal behaviour. There was a significant increase in searches on Google on “how to commit suicide’’ after a very famous young actor in India had committed suicide.
People believe that it is an individual’s choice, so suicide cannot be precluded. Socio-economic factors beyond the victims’ control make suicides imminent. There is often apt resolution of their problems for an overwhelming majority of young people who have suicidal tendency. Young people can be taught problem-solving, impulse control and emotional regulation skills along with improving help-seeking behaviour. It is imperative that early identification of mental agony and provision of care are done in a youth-friendly environment. Mental health can be ameliorated by living a healthy life (moderate and appropriate use of the Internet, cultivating supportive friendships, a good diet, regular physical activity, yoga and meditation). A healthy lifestyle keeps suicidal tendency at bay.
Suicidal behaviour is diminished by improving the family environment by abating domestic violence and alcohol consumption, and furnishing economic assistance to the needy. Educational reforms such as alternative evaluation methods and provisions to harness the latent talent of a young person are indispensable. Stigma and discrimination based on caste, religion and sexuality need to be addressed to bring about societal reformations. Political will, intersectoral collaboration and commitment, and community participation are needed.
To develop a National Suicide Prevention Strategy for India, The Ministry of Health set up a task force in November 2019. With the mission of diminishing suicide by 10% by 2030, the final strategy was instituted on November 21, 2022.
Promoting the strategy to all states in India and stakeholders is the imperative task. Budgetary allocations are indispensable and we need to execute the strategy at the earliest at the State, district and community levels.
That collaboration between the Ministries of Health, Education, Information and Broadcasting, and Social Welfare is indispensable has been acknowledged by the strategy. The strategy accentuates the significance to leverage educational institutions and youth organisations to campaign for mental health and check substance and behavioural addictions through school health ambassadors and youth clubs. [ Dr. Ravi Prakash Tiwari is the author of Pun Is Fun.]
