Research finds suicide rates high among young, educated

More suicide deaths in India occurred in richer states, many of which are in the south, and in individuals with higher levels of education, revealed a study by the prominent British medical journal, The Lancet.

"Higher education and residency in southern India was associated with an increased risk of suicide," says the study's lead author Vikram Patel, of London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

Interestingly, most public attention in India has focused on suicide in farmers. "The age-specific and sex-specific death totals, rates, and risks, as well as the mode of suicide in India's diverse sociodemographic populations, are not well understood," says Patel.

A detailed analysis along with UN estimates and Registrar General of India's first national survey presents that about 40% suicide deaths in men and about 56% of suicide deaths in women occurred in individuals aged 15â€"29 years in 2010, making suicide the second leading cause of death in both sexes.

According to the study, the age-standardised suicide death rate per 100,000 people at ages 15 years or older varied substantially between states and was generally higher in the south of India.

"In the absence of other causes of death, men aged 15 years or older have a lifetime risk of suicide of 2% or higher in the southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, and women aged 15 years or older have a lifetime risk of suicide of 2% in Tamil Nadu," the study reveals.

"Studies from south India have shown that the most common contributors to suicide are a combination of social problems, such as interpersonal and family problems and financial difficulties, and pre-existing mental illness."

Besides the four southern states, Maharashtra and West Bengal together accounted for an additional 15% of suicide deaths. Delhi recorded the lowest suicide rate in the country.

Drinking alcohol and an occupation of agricultural work were associated with the risk of suicide in men. Almost 50% of suicide deaths are caused by pesticide poisoning, followed by hanging and burning.

Suicide death rates were higher in rural India than they were in urban India, because of the higher availability of pesticides combined with poorer access to emergency medical care.

While suicide in India is the cause of about twice as many deaths as is HIV/AIDS, the study says it only attracts little public health attention.

"Findings from our nationally representative survey of causes of deaths in India show that suicide is an important cause of death, especially in young people aged 15â€"29 years," says the lead author, Patel.

The study points that the country lacks community or support services for the prevention of suicide and has restricted access to care for mental illnesses associated with suicide.

To tackle suicide deaths in men and violence against women, the study authors have recommended reductions in binge alcohol drinking through regulations, higher alcohol taxation and brief interventions in primary care.

Urgent research is also needed to explore the reasons for suicide in young people, they said.

WHO estimates that about 170 000 deaths by suicide occur in India each year.