India Is Now The Suicide Capital Of The World, Says WHO


BANGALORE: Suicide considered as a mysterious act, is often committed by those people who are mentally and emotionally disturbed. It is a social and very serious issue in India today.

As per the decade-long study by the World Health Organization, India accounted for the highest estimated number of suicides in the world in 2012. According this report, published recently, finds that one person commits suicide every 40 seconds globally. Out of which, one of every three suicides takes place in India.

As such, India is now anointed as world's suicide capital. It also has the highest rate of suicides among youth at those aged 15 to 29 years.

The report further revealed that, 258,075 people committed suicide in India in 2012, with 99,977 women and 158,098 men taking their own lives. India's suicide rate was 21.1 per 100,000 people.

Dr. Shekhar Saxena, Director of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse at WHO said, "This report, the first WHO publication of its kind, presents a comprehensive overview of suicide, suicide attempts and successful suicide prevention efforts worldwide. We know what works. Now is the time to act," reports PTI.

Pesticide poisoning, hanging and firearms are among the most common methods of suicide globally. Suicide by intentional pesticide ingestion is of particular concern in rural agricultural areas in the South-East Asia Region, the report said.

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