The suicide death rate in India has reduced by 30 percent from 1990 to 2021, according to a new study published in The Lancet Public Health and accessed by The Indian Express.

 

In 1990, India’s suicide death rate was recorded at 18.9 per 100,000 population. By 2019, this figure had decreased to 13.1 per 100,000; by 2021, it further dropped to 13 per 100,000 population. This represents an overall reduction of 31.5 per cent over three decades. 

Despite this significant improvement, India has the highest number of suicides in the world. According to a National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report released in April, 1.71 lakh people died by suicide in 2022 in India. The suicide rate has increased to 12.4 per 1,00,000, the highest rate ever recorded in India.

 

In recent times, To address the issue of suicide, the Government is taking multi-pronged measures and providing psychological support to people, students, teachers and families for mental and emotional well-being to avoid incidences of suicide.

 

A “National Tele Mental Health Programme” has been launched in 2022 to improve access to quality mental health counselling and care services in the country. As of 28 November 2024, 36 States/ UTs have set up 53 Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (MANAS) Cells. More than 16,11,000 calls have been handled on the helpline number.

 

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released the National Suicide Prevention Strategy in November 2022. UGC issued an advisory to Higher Educational Institutions on 6 January 2023 to take action as listed in the National Suicide Prevention Strategy. This Strategy provides a framework for multiple stakeholders to implement activities for the prevention of suicides and a 10 percent reduction in mortality due to suicide by 2030 in India.

 

As per the available information, there are 47 Government-run mental hospitals in the country, including 3 Central Mental Health Institutions, viz. National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru, Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur, Assam and Central Institute of Psychiatry, Ranchi.

 

Further, to enhance the country's health services capacity, the Government of India is implementing the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP). Under the Tertiary care component of NMHP, 25 Centres of Excellence have been sanctioned to increase the intake of students in PG departments in mental health specialities and provide tertiary-level treatment facilities. The Government has also supported the establishment of / strengthening of 47 PG Departments in mental health specialities in 19 Government medical colleges/institutions. Mental Health Services are also provisioned for 22 All India Institute Of Medical Science (AIIMS). These services are also available under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY).

 

The District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) component of the NMHP has been sanctioned for implementation in 767 districts for which support is provided to States/UTs through the National Health Mission with the objectives that include suicide prevention services, workplace stress management, life skills training and counselling in schools and colleges. 

The Government is doing a lot to prevent suicides, but the rising trend of suicide in India is quite concerning and calls for stronger attention.