Question : Suicide Preventive Strategy

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Government is aware that as per the study conducted by Disease Burden Initiative in collaboration with Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) India accounts for 37 percent of suicide deaths between the age group of 15 and 39 years in the world, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the study also indicates that the suicide rate has consistently been increasing over the years, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether as per study, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are among the top States where more suicides of women are being reported, if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the manner in which the Government is planning to develop suicideprevention strategy?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a) & (b): As per the Report “India: Health of the Nation’s States” prepared by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) and the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), the percentage of deaths due to suicide and interpersonal violence is 2.8% of total deaths in the country. Between the years 1990 and 2016, India’s contribution to global suicide rate increased from 25.3% to 36.6% among women, and from 18.7% to 24.3% among men.

(c): As per the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2016 published in the Lancet in October, 2018, the highest Suicide Death Rate among
women in 2016 was in the States of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, followed by West Bengal, Tripura, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. The details of Suicide Death Rate in the States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are Annexed.



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(d): To address the burden of mental disorders, the Government of India is implementing the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) since 1982. The Government is supporting implementation of the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) under NMHP in 655 districts of the country with the objectives to:
(i) Provide suicide prevention services, work place stress management, life skills training and counseling in schools and colleges.
(ii) Provide mental health services including prevention, promotion and longterm continuing care at different levels of district healthcare delivery system.
(iii) Augment institutional capacity in terms of infrastructure, equipment and human resource for mental healthcare.
(iv) Promote community awareness and participation in the delivery of mental healthcare services.