THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala stands fifth in the suicide rate in the country and sixth in the number of suicides. But a bright spot in the bleak scenario is that no one committed suicide in the state due to poverty during 2014.
According to the latest report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), family issues, health problems and economic backwardness are the major reasons driving Keralites to suicides. Factors like drug abuse, breakup of marriages and love affairs and exam fears too lead to suicides.
The Union Territory of Pondicherry tops in suicide rate with 40.5 percent, followed by Sikkim 38.4, Andamans 28.9, Telangana 26.5 and Kerala 23.9 with a national average of 10.5.
Maharashtra tops in numbers with 16,307, followed by Tamil Nadu 16,122, Karnataka 10,945, Telangana 9,623, Madhya Pradesh 9,036 and Kerala 8,446, which shows a -2.3 percent decline as the number was 8,646 in 2013.
Of the 8,446 persons, 6,412 were males and 2,034 females. Among them, 6,249 had an annual income of less than Rs 1 lakh Of the 8,446 persons, 6,412 were males and 2,034 females.
Among them, 6,249 had an annual income of less than Rs 1 lakh; 1,925 were in the Rs 1 lakh -- Rs lakh group; 166 in the Rs 5 lakh -- Rs 10 lakh category and only 106 had income above Rs 10 lakh.
A total of 5,693 hanged themselves while 1,373 consumed poisons. Among the professional group, 1,777 persons who committed suicide were self-employed and 1,329 unemployed. Among the 634 salaried persons, 498 were from the private sector.
As many as 2,125 Keralites committed suicide due to illnesses during 2014, of whom 763 suffered from insanity, 76 had cancer and 1,271 other prolonged diseases. One person had AIDS. Drug abuse led to the suicide of 475.
Owing to examination fears, 61 students committed suicide and 59 due to professional issues. Marriage issues provoked 118 to end their lives and love affairs led to 147 suicides.
According to psychiatrists, suicide rates are high in developing societies owing to factors like rising expectations and social stigma. The problem could be tackled by imparting life skill training in problem-solving and decision- making.
“Life skill training should be given through NGOs, service organisations and agencies like Kudumbashree to all sections of society. It should also be included in school syllabus,” suggested Dr. R. Jayaprakash, additional professor of paediatrics and child psychiatrist at SAT Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram.
