Context: The consolidated data of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) on children’s suicide was recently presented in Parliament.

• According to the data, as many as 24,568 children, including 13,325 girls, aged 14-18 years, died by suicide between 2017-19.

Key Points

• Over 24,000 children in the age bracket of 14-18 years committed suicide from 2017-19, with failure in examination being the reason in over 4,000 such cases, according to government data.
• Highest number of deaths by suicide among children: Madhya Pradesh (3,115), followed by West Bengal (2,802), Maharashtra (2,527) and Tamil Nadu (2,035).

Reason for suicide

• Failure in examination (4,000 cases)
• Love affairs (3,315 cases)
• Illness (2,567 cases)
• Marriage-related issue (639 cases)
• Physical abuse (81 cases)

Other reasons: Death of a dear person, drug abuse/alcohol addiction, illegitimate pregnancy, fall in social reputation, unemployment, poverty and ideological causes or hero-worshipping.
Suggestions for prevention of suicide in Children

• Inclusion of life skill training in the school curriculum.
• Making mental health part of mainstream healthcare and wellness agenda.
• As all children and adolescents have a right to quality mental healthcare and psycho-social support mechanisms, government should ensure their mental well-being.
• Civil society and communities should join hands in contributing a robust mechanism towards prevention and rehabilitation services of children’s suicide.

Government’s efforts on Mental health care
National Mental Health Programme

• It is implemented by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare since 1982 as part of National Health Mission (NHM).
• In this, technical and financial support is provided to the States/UTs for implementation of the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP).
• Aim: To provide suicide prevention services, work place stress management, life skills training and counselling in schools and colleges etc.
• Mental healthcare services have been added in the package of services under Comprehensive Primary Health Care under Ayushman Bharat – HWC Scheme.
• Operational guidelines on Mental, Neurological, and Substance Use Disorders (MNs) at Health and Wellness Centers (HWC) have been released under the ambit of Ayushman Bharat.
• Ministry of women and Child development has established a National Initiative & Integrated Resource Centre for Child Protection, Mental Health, and Psychosocial Care named “SAMVAD” at NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences), at Bangalore.
• Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB) under Ministry of Women & Child Development is implementing Family Counselling Centres (FCC) which was introduced by CSWB in 1983.
• FCC provides counselling, referral and rehabilitative services to women and children, who are victims of atrocities, family maladjustments, social ostracism.
• It also provide crisis intervention and trauma counselling in case of natural disasters.