Context: Recently, Lancet has published a paper titled ‘The national suicide prevention strategy in India: Context and considerations for urgent action’.
Key highlights of paper

• India reports the highest number of suicide deaths in the world.
• The suicide rate among Indian girls and women continues to be twice the global rate.
• India’s contribution to global suicide deaths has increased from 27·3% in 1990 to 36·5% in 2019 among women and girls.
• Suicide accounts for most deaths in the 15–39 years age group compared with other causes of death.
• India is projected to fall short of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2030 target of reducing the age-standardised suicide death rate(ASDR) by one third.
• The ratio of ASDR for men and boys to ASDR for women and girls in India was 1·3 in 2019.

Method of suicide

• Hanging is the most common method of suicide, followed by pesticides poisoning, medicine overdose, and self-immolation.

Causes of suicide

• Major: socioeconomic circumstances, interpersonal problems, social and cultural conflicts, alcoholism, unemployment, and poor health
• Other: absenteeism in school or college, physical and sexual abuse, intergenerational conflicts, academic competition, fear of academic failure, and parental pressures
• COVID-19 pandemic also increases the cases of suicide.

Key Suggestions

Measures by India in this regard

• The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 decriminalizes suicide, assuring adequate medical relief to those attempting it.
• The National Mental Health Programme and Health and Wellness Centres under the Ayushman Bharat Program are efforts to provide quality care at the primary health care level.
• Deaddiction centres and rehabilitation services are also available.
• A comprehensive suicide prevention strategy within the framework of the National Mental Health Policy of India 2014, with effective multisectoral collaboration is imperative.

The National Mental Health Policy of India, aimed to reduce suicide deaths and suicide attempts through various means such as:

• suicide prevention programmes,
• restricting access to the means of suicide(pesticides in particular),
• framing guidelines for responsible media reporting,
• training community leaders.