The Hindu

• Chennai, Bangalore top the list in terms of suicide rate 
• Kerala and West Bengal have high suicide rates
• `Even children aged between 10 and 15 are committing suicide now'
• Breakdown of joint family system has led to an increase in the number of elderly persons committing suicide

Udupi, Sep 11: P.S.V.N. Sharma, head of the Department of Psychiatry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, said on Sunday that a change in attitude and steps to overcome social inequality would help in bringing down the number of suicide cases.

Seminar

He was speaking at a seminar on "Legal and medical remedies to prevent suicide", organised by the State Psychiatry Association, State Legal Services Authority, and Red Cross Society here to mark World Suicide Prevention Day.

Prof. Sharma said the rate of suicide cases in the country stood at 10 to 15 persons for one lakh.

A majority of them were aged between 18 and 35. In urban areas, Pondicherry, Chennai and Bangalore top the list in terms of suicide rate.

Among the States, Kerala and West Bengal had high suicide rates. In the past 15 years, the pattern of suicide had changed. Now even children aged between 10 and 15 were committing suicide. Family suicide pattern had increased.

Breakdown

The breakdown of joint family system had led to an increase in the number of elderly persons committing suicide, he said.

Since copycat suicides had increased, the media, especially television and newspapers, should restrain themselves while covering suicide cases. Chances of men aged above 40 years and single men committing suicide were more. The chance of a person, who had attempted suicide once, retrying the same was high, he said. Some of the reasons for suicide were mental problem, depression, consumption of drugs, diseases, crisis and isolation. When a person committed suicide it would affect the family as there were no support groups to help them through the crisis, Prof. Sharma said

Deputy Commissioner V. Ponnuraj presided over the function.

Psychiatrist P.V. Bhandary moderated the programme.

District and Sessions Judge K.N. Phaneendra, Superintendent of Police A.S. Rao, District Surgeon Dayananda Nayak, District Health and Family Welfare Officer M.R. Nayak, were present.