World Suicide Prevention Day: Odisha’s suicide rate is higher than national rate; experts blame mental stress 

At a time when the whole world observed the World Suicide Prevention Day today, three members of family-a woman, her son and her daughter- attempted suicide at Masterpada village in Sohela area of Bargarh district. 

Of them, while the brother-sister duo died, their mother is struggling for life on the hospital bed. 

The reason for their alleged suicide pact is said to be the severe mental stress after losing the head of their family. 

The incident is just a single case out of several such cases reported from different parts of the state on a daily basis where starting from school and college-going students to elderly people who are committing suicides. And in most such cases, mental stress is said to be the main reason behind the extreme step.

While unable to come to terms with the crop loss, farmers are committing suicide; students are ending life after finding their results are not up to the expectations of their parents and teachers. Similarly, young people are taking the extreme step after failure in love. Whatever may be the reason, the mental stress is behind all of them.  

As per the information shared by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), a total of 5,651 people died by suicide in Odisha in 2021. This means, 15 people committed suicide every day. Odisha accounts for 3.4 percent of the country’s total suicide cases. Even, the state’s suicide rate is higher than the national rate. While 12 in every 1 lakh people commit suicide at the national leve, in Odisha, it is 12.3. 

“I would like to say that parents should have watchful eyes on their children. If they are just asked why they are so late, it will be of great impact. They will have a fear of their parents,” observed Jayshree Mahapatra, a social activist. 

Former police officer Sarat Sahu said, “In most suicide cases, the police don’t get suicide notes. In those cases, they should investigate properly to find out the reasons and then steps should be taken to check such attempts.”

Now, the question is how a precious life can be saved by deciphering the behaviours of a person who is contemplating taking his/her life. 

According to experts, in these persons, a sudden change in their behaviours is noticed. This apart, they prefer to be alone and get angry even at trivial matters. Such people have ‘I am alone’ like social media status. 

According to Dr Subhendu Mishra, a psychologist, “Suicide can never be a solution to any problem. If the topic of mental health is discussed openly, its solution will emerge. If a person is found to be living alone, getting angry at trivial matters, throwing articles and having black figures or ‘I am alone’ like social media status, then psychiatric social workers or clinical psychiatrists should be consulted.”