Govt worried over high suicide rate

SNS, Gangtok, 9 June 2014: With a view to bring about awareness and sensitizing doctors and NGOs on what it termed an increasing number of suicide cases in Sikkim, a meeting on ‘suicide, a major health problem’ was organized by the National Mental Health Programme under the National Health Mission here today.

According to latest data at the State Crime Records Bureau, 181 people committed suicide in the year 2013.Stating that suicides are a major cause of concern, Dr CL Pradhan said a majority of the suicides take place in rural Sikkim and involves the age group of 21 to 40 years. According to him, 99% of the suicide cases in the state was related to hanging, and that more than women are opting for suicides.He added that the mental illnesses including depression are one of the reasons for the increasing suicide rate in the state.

“However, lack of scope to avoid a difficult situation leads to people committing suicide in many cases,” he said.He suggested that skills to cope with difficult situations should be taught in schools.“Mental illness is treatable; however it has to be an effort not only of the psychiatrist, but the society as a whole has to come forward to deal with it,” he said.

Mission Director of the National Health Mission, Dr PM Pradhan, said suicides or mental health are topics that need to be discussed as a priority.

“Psychiatrists are not doctors treating mad people, which is the mindset of the people. We have set up many centres across the districts to deal with mental illnesses and people should utilize these facilities,” he said.