A High Rate of Suicides a Major Cause of Concern in India

The high rate of suicides in India has become a major cause of concern. A recent study has found suicide to be the topmost cause of death among those in the age group of 15 to 29 years as well as those between the ages of 15 and 39. The suicide rate among women in India is about 15 per 100,000, more than the global average of 7 per 100,000. The suicide death rate among Indian men—21 per 100,000—is also higher than the global average of 15 per 100,000. The study also revealed significant variations in the suicide rates across the different States of India—from 30 per 100,000 people in Karnataka and 21 in Kerala to 7.4 in Bihar and 4.8 in Nagaland. While the suicide rate for women may seem to be lower than the rate for men, it is actually rather high considering that it is more than double the global average. The suicide rate for men is comparatively lower, considering that it is 1.4 times the global average. However, statistical comparisons of figures for men and women can be misleading because the most vital indicator is the high rate of suicides among women—compared to world figures. What emerges is that more men than women commit suicides all over the world, but that the suicide rate for women in India is alarming, considering the global pattern. It would be pointless to make only intelligent guesses. We need social activists to analyse the reasons why so many women take their own lives in India compared to the rest of the world.