Assam: Family problems a major cause of suicide cases in state

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: One of the reasons behind the increase in suicide cases in Assam is family problems. State Health Minister Ashok Singal informed the Assam Assembly of this today.

Drawing the attention of the House, BJP MLA Mrinal Saikia raised the issue of the surge in suicide cases in the state.

In his reply, Singhal said that various bio-psycho-social factors are responsible for suicides. He said that the government is worried about the rising suicide cases in the state. The government has taken some preventive measures at the district level to arrest the menace.

Citing a National Crime Records Bureau report, the minister said that 35 percent of suicide cases in Assam take place because of family problems, 12 percent for marriage-related issues, ten percent for love affairs, nine percent for illness, eight percent for mental illness, eight percent for property disputes, four percent for poverty, four percent for unemployment, and miscellaneous reasons.

The minister said that the government has done various activities at the district level, including targeted intervention camps. This activity aims to sensitise the whole community about mental health, features of mental disorders, suicide prevention, screening of mental health disorders among the population, etc., he said.

These camps are being held in different places such as hospitals, schools, colleges, workplaces, jails, etc., regularly. A team consisting of medical officers, clinical psychologists, psychiatric social workers, and supportive staff attends the camps and provides services, including awareness of the causes of suicides and how to prevent them.

An implementation research study on suicide among students is being conducted as a pilot in Kamrup. This study is being undertaken by ICMR and AIIMS, Guwahati, in collaboration with the government of Assam. The study aims to find out the factors leading to suicide and develop an effective implementation service model to effectively address the mental health needs of students in Assam.

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