Early Times Report
JAMMU, Jan 3: The suicide rate in Jammu region is constantly on the rise, as an increase of more than 752 cases reported in the year 2011; experts are blaming a variety of factors for the hike in toll.
According to Jammu Police statistics, suicides in the State, even within 3 months records total number of people 22, who attempted suicide and 212 people consumed poisoning substances. Surprisingly, most of these cases involve youngsters in the age group of 17 to 28 years.
As per the data of Government Medical College (GMC), reports of deaths and suicides across State have rose. Jammu province reports 5 to 10 cases of road accidents per day.
"It is shocking that the department has registered 234 cases of poison and alcohol; 22 people attempted suicide and 10 died, between three months of 2012," said a GMC official.
Sources also revealed that youth in the age group of 17-28 are found most likely to take their own lives, though teenagers as young as 13 years old have also committed suicide over the last two decades. However, 248 suicide cases in 2010, and over 1000 suicide cases were registered in 2011.
Experts say in urban areas, hanging, jumping into rivers and consuming poison are some of the most common methods. In villages pesticides are often used. Women commonly set themselves ablaze during suicide attempts.
"The social support system for the youngsters has gone down drastically with the proliferation of more nuclear families and live-in relations," explains Maruti Sharma, a psychologist.
"Youths mainly from middle-income class are finding it difficult to keep pace with the fast-moving metro life and growing demands made on them. Youth have created an undue pressure upon themselves. To cope with stress, they are also dragging themselves to alcohol and drugs," adds Maruti.
"The rise in such cases among youth is an indication that we are persistently failing in our efforts to provide them a reason for a meaningful existence," he further said.
It was also pointed that unemployment and financial stress has come out as a major cause of suicides among the youth in Jammu and Kashmir, with Jammu region leading the State in number of people committing suicide.
Concerned with the increasing number of suicide cases in the State, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India will be providing assistance of Rs 8.50 crore to the State Government for up-gradation of academic, clinical and diagnostic facilities at the Psychiatric Hospitals in Srinagar and Jammu, say the sources. |
