INTRODUCTION

The word 'suicide' was first used by Sir Thomas Browne in 1642 in his book 'Religio Medici'.
The word originated from 'Sui' or 'oneself' and 'Caedes' meaning 'murder'. Suicide is “a self-
inflicted death in which one makes an intentional, direct and conscious effort to end one’s
life”.Throughout history, suicide has been both condemned and praised by various societies. It is
condemned by Islam, Judaism and Christianity, and attempts are punishable by law in several
countries”. However, in Hinduism and Buddhism, various forms of taking one’s own life have
been tolerated. The practice of Sati or Sutee and seppuku (also called hara-kiri) are examples of
such tolerance. Suicide is immoral in light of the fact that it denies social duties with an end goal
to resolve individual emergency which transforms it as a social issue autonomous of individual
misery. It additionally speaks to a quantifiable misfortune to the general public. Everyone no less
than one time ought to have thought of suicide. Suicidal act isn't a segregated occasion as it is
constantly identified with the vest of an individual life. Suicide isn't indeed, even a response of
outer pressure; it is the result of numerous powers in the life of person. Typically conferring or
endeavouring suicide indicates passionate unsettling influences, loss of riches, status, eminence,
separating of family ties, seclusion and dismissal. . Numerous suicidal people have profoundly
controlled conduct or they tend to see their circumstance with exclusive focus. Suicide can be
classified into several types of which the most important being completed suicide; in which the
individual dies as a result of the self-destructive act, attempted suicide, in which the individual
survives the act; and suicidal ideation, which refers to the individual thinking about and planning
suicidal behaviour, though not putting these thoughts into action. Suicide is one among the ten
leading causes of death world over. The risk of suicide after a non-fatal suicide behaviour is 100
times more than that of general population. Most of the attempts are planned and precautions are
often taken to ensure discovery. That is, often a suicidal patient gives a warning, signal or feelers
often to more than one person. A lot of factors are found to be associated with suicidal
behaviour. Suicides are found to be more in men, while attempts are about four times more in
female. The suicide rates usually increase with age, but the adolescent peek is now becoming
more and more significant. There are percentage differences among different religious groups. A
marriage was assumed to get more stable with the birth of children. However, some findings
contradict it, especially in unhappy married life. It has been observed that, individuals becoming
suicidal have identified psychiatric disturbance as the strongest predictor of future suicidality. In

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particular, both unipolar and bipolar depressions are associated with the greatest suicidal risk.
Coming to terms with the death of a loved one is one of life’s most challenging journeys. When
the death is from suicide, family members and friends can experience an even more complex
kind of grief. While trying to cope with the pain of their sudden loss, they are overwhelmed by
feelings of blame, anger and incomprehension. Adding to their burden is the stigma that still
surrounds suicide. Survivors of suicide and their friends can help each other and themselves by
gaining an understanding of grief after suicide Family characteristics play an important role,
including the quality of family relationships both before and after the suicide, and how well the
family is able to stabilise, support each other to deal with their loss, and carry on their lives.

In fact, suicide is the most rapidly growing cause of death among people, the National Center
for Health Statistics ranked suicide as the third leading cause of adolescent death. In addition,
the number of recorded deaths by suicide is apparently an underestimate of reality since a large
number of completed suicides go unreported or are labeled as accidents. WHO places on record
that 1 million people die due to suicide every year. Other experts measure that at least 5
million people are wiped out from the globe every year due to suicide, which is more than
any war, or natural disaster has claimed so far. It is third commonest cause of death in the age
group of 15-25 years. In India about one hundred per thousand people die due to suicide,
as per the government reports. There is raising trend seen in children, adolescents and in
women. Suicide is the second main cause of death in the age group of 25 to 35 years,
only next to the road traffic accidents. Suicide is now understood as a “public health
issue” world over. Suicide phenomenon is not merely medical or social problem. It is
primarily concerned with public health in terms of its dimensions, diversity ,universality and
challenges.

DISORGANIZATION

The disorganization of suicidal behavior or completed suicide on friends and family members are
often devastating. Individuals who lose a loved one to suicide (suicide survivors) are more at risk
for becoming preoccupied with the reason for the suicide while wanting to deny or hide the cause
of death, wondering if they could have prevented it, feeling blamed for the problems that
preceded the suicide, feeling rejected by their loved one, and stigmatized by others. Survivors

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may experience a great range of conflicting emotions about the deceased, feeling everything
from intense emotional pain and sadness about the loss, helpless to prevent it, longing for the
person they lost, questioning of their own religious beliefs, and anger at the deceased for taking
their own life to relief if the suicide took place after years of physical or mental illness in their
loved one. This is quite understandable given that the person they are grieving is at the same time
the victim and the perpetrator of the fatal act. Individuals left behind by the suicide of a loved
one tend to experience complicated grief in reaction to that loss. Symptoms of grief that may be
experienced by suicide survivors include intense emotions, like depression and guilt, as well as
longings for the deceased, severely intrusive thoughts about the lost loved one, extreme feelings
of isolation and emptiness, avoiding doing things that bring back memories of the departed, new
or worsened appetite or sleep problems, and having no interest in activities that the sufferer used
to enjoy.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Like other researcher, the researcher in the present study will also analyze the previous literature
available on the given topic, which is of some relevance in the present study, some of them are:

Strother, Deborah Burnett (1986) in the article “Suicide Among the Young” found that the
amount of research on suicide among the young has been considerable (despite an almost total
lack of federal support), many of the studies have been relatively unsophisticated, according to
Alani Berman. For example, most of what researchers have learned comes from the study of
children who have attempted suicide. But children who attempt suicide differ considerably from
children who succeed in killing themselves. Children who attempt suicide tend to be female, by a
ratio of 4: 1; more than 90% try to kill themselves by ingesting drugs; and they do not want to
die. Children who succeed in killing themselves tend to be male, by a ratio of 3:1; two-thirds of
them kill themselves with guns; and most of them are serious about seeking death.

Rickgarn, Ralph L.V. (1987) in the article “Youth Suicide: Update on a Continuing Health
Issue” found that violence goes beyond violent methods of suicide. Youth who have experienced
recent beatings, assaults, or rapes become high risk individuals. The combination of youthful
impulsiveness with traumatic or stressful events may be deadly. Youth experience overwhelming

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shame, guilt, and humiliation that destroy fragile adolescent egos. Impulsive and violent
behaviour is often exacerbated by alcohol or other chemical abuse that decreases the individual's
ability to cope with stressful situations. The recent upsurge in the macho image places the
vulnerable individual in a socially untenable position wherein that person is expected to deal
directly with some outside force. Unable to control the force, the person must escape from
psychological pain, and the result may be suicide. For example, rural youth seem to develop a
feeling of responsibility for their part in 'saving the farm" or in feeling that they cannot attend
college because it would strain family finance. For urban youth, the search for a job in an era of
high teenage unemployment frustrates their ability to have funds for social and necessary
purchases, which leaves them frustrated and alienated.

Björkenstam, Charlotte; Weitoft, Gunilla Ringbäck; Hjern, Anders

Nordström,Peter;Hallqvist ,Johan Ljung ,Rickard (2011), in article “School grades, parental
education and suicide” focuses on the suicide rate of teenager students who are depressed due to
low grades in exam and not to do good performance in academic. School performance is easily
measured, at least in terms of school grades, and may potentially be used in secondary
prevention to identify those at-risk for suicide. However, studies elucidating the relation between
school grades and psychiatric health and suicide are scarce. A few previously published studies
show that poor school performance is more common among suicidal youths. Alaraisanen et al
found in their study of 11017 individuals that good school performance was associated with
decreased suicide risk.

Evans, Julia R.; Velsor, Patricia Van; E. Schumacher, Joseph (2002) In the article
“Addressing Adolescent Depression: A Role for School Counselors” found that to learning to
recognize the symptoms and signs of depression in adolescents, the school counsellor can initiate
school-based prevention programs. Preventive activities may address topics such as drug and
alcohol use, physical and social development, and peer relationships. Preventive efforts may
involve primary, secondary, and tertiary. primary prevention targets the entire population of
adolescents in schools and focuses on normative events. The school counsellor can organize
school efforts to provide all students with information about how tocope with the stresses of
normal growth and development. Secondary prevention focuses on Adolescents already
exhibiting some signs of problems (Kazdin, 1993) as well as those exposed to known risk

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factors. School counselors can conduct small group counseling with these at-risk adolescents,
focusing the group sessions on the specific problem (e.g., low self- esteem, social isolation) or
the particular risk factor.

Carroll Patrick W.O, Potter Lloyd B.,Mercy James A(1994) in the article “Programs for the
Prevention of Suicide Among Adolescent And young Adults” found that Suicide prevention
programs on the list were then categorized according to the nature of the prevention strategy
using a framework of eight suicide prevention strategies: School gatekeeper training, Community
gatekeeper training, General suicide education, Screening programs, Peer support programs,
Crisis centers and hotlines, Restriction of access to lethal means, Intervention after a suicide.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

The following research problem deals with the theories of suicides propounded by Durkheim
(Suicide (French: Le suicide) 1897) which talks about four kinds of suicide. As such these
classifications, this reflects a breakdown in the connection between the individual and society.
Egoistic suicide joins the thought that a person has no worry for their locale and no enthusiasm for
being associated with it. Altruistic suicide is when society has a strict hold over the individual,
giving the person too little individualism. In this situation the family system has highly
permeable boundaries, making the family and the individuals within the family highly
susceptible to events and changes within their wider social environment. Durkheim defined
Anomic suicide as a self-annihilation triggered by a person's inability to cope with sudden and
unfavourable change in a social situation. The situation of Kerala will deal with the theories of
Durkhiem, will try to examine which kind of suicide is most prevalent and how it can deal. The
other think to be examined is that whether the present circumstances of Kerala is of such nature
that the theories of suicide will be applicable to it or it needs different outlook to examine the
situation of Kerala. The present rate of modernisation, development, unemployment level,
migration, does have effect on upon suicide rate.
Psychological theories -The first important psychological insight into suicide was reported by
Freud. According to him suicide represents aggression turned inward against an “introjected”
object. This retroflexed murder is either turned inward or used as an excuse for punishment, or
self-directed death instincts, which he refers to as Thanatos. Freud identified three components
of hostility suicide: a wish to kill, a wish to be killed, and a wish to die. Freud also described
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suicide as an aggression turned inward against an introjected ambivalently cathected loved object
and he doubted that there could be a suicide without any earlier repressed desire to kill someone
else. Menninger’s theory is built on Freud’s concept. He perceived suicide as inverted homicide
because of a patient’s anger towards another person. This retroflexed murder is either turned
inward or used as an excuse for punishment or a self-directed death.

CONFLICT THEORY: The conflict theory, suggested by Karl Marx, claims society is in a
state of perpetual conflict because of competition for limited resources. It holds that social order
is maintained by domination and power, rather than consensus and conformity. According to
conflict theory, those with wealth and power try to hold on to it by any means possible, chiefly
by suppressing the poor and powerless. A basic premise of conflict theory is that individuals and
groups within society will work to maximize their own benefits.

• Conflict theory focuses on the competition between groups within society over limited
resources.
• Conflict theory views social and economic institutions as tools of the struggle between
groups or classes, used to maintain inequality and the dominance of the ruling class.
• Marxist conflict theory sees society as divided along lines of economic class between the
proletarian working class and the bourgeois ruling class.
• Later versions of conflict theory look at other dimensions of conflict among capitalist
factions and between various social, religious, and other types of groups.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM

We all have come across the saying that Knowledge is power and intact a person with wisdom
which help to face any problem. Knowledge makes a man trained in finding solution of the
problem not making him run away from it. It makes person brave not coward. With knowledge
comes prosperity and well-being in the society. Simply saying it makes living life in better way.
The above following paradox served as the driving force to choose such a topic for research.
The following research paper will be beneficial in identification of the problem of suicide and
mind-set of the people which make lead to such immoral acts. Individual is part of society and
his actions causes a relevant impact in the society. Finding reasons and solution will help to

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make society aware of the problem. Once the society gets aware then it becomes very easy for
the policy makers to regulate and control such acts. For example in Jainism there is a practice by
which commit suicide by way of starvation. Literally saying it is suicide but due lack of
awareness and religious sanction makes such practises prevalent and this factor makes the
government helpless to get away with such rituals.
The aim of the paper is to dig out the factors which lead to attempt and commitment of suicide.
This paper will try to bring reasons and solutions and aware people not to take such adverse
actions.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
.To study the impact of socio-economic background on people who attempts and commit suicide.
. To examine factors responsible for suicide or cause of Suicide.
. To study the impact modernity of suicide rates.
.To study about what preventive precaution should be taken to prevent commit Suicide in India.
. To analyse Incidence and Rate of Suicides during the Decade (2005–2015) in India.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Since the problem being a socio-economic one, the method of the research is chosen in such a
manner that would bring out the holistic view of the issue. The method used is based upon secondary
data collection, and has been applied with appropriate modifications to include and impact of suicide
on family members assimilate the data derived from diverse sources. The focus of the research is
limited to the population of the India.

CHAPTER SCHEME
The research has been conducted under the following heads:
Chapter I Introduction enunciates the problem for study in the view towards individual and societal
aspects of suicide.
Chapter II deals with relation between socialization and suicide.
Chapter III elaborates factors or causes responsible for suicide.
Chapter IV deals with data analysis of suicide trend in India.

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.Chapter V Concluding Observations embodies the deduction of research. It after analysis of
contemporary trends offers certain generalizations and findings, Suggestions and Recommendations
of the study with preventive measures that would help to bring down the high suicide, And at last
it brings out certain proposals accordingly.

SOCIALIZATION AND SUICIDE

Socialization is a process which occurs through human interactions. It is essential for the individual’s
survival and for human development. “Socialization is the life long process of social interaction
through which individuals acquire a self-identity and the physical, mental and social skills needed for
the survival in society. It enables to develop human potential through the means of thinking, talking
and acting; that are essential for social living. In other words socialization is essential for the
individual’s survival and human development. Besides it is essential for the survival and stability of
society too. Members of the society must socialize to support and maintain the existing social
structure. Through this process we learn a great deal from those who are important in our lives an
immediate family member, best friends and teachers. We also learn from television, films, and
magazines and through internet. Family is an institution closely associated with the process of
Socialization. Most parents seek to help their children become competent and self-sufficient; that is
by socializing as per the norms and values of both family and the larger society. Through this process
adult themselves experience socialization as they adjust to becoming spouse, parents and in-laws, in
terms of gender roles, expectations regarding proper behaviour, attitudes and activities of males and
females. Like family, schools have function to socialize people. The functionalists point out that as,
agents of Socialization schools fulfils the function of teaching recruits of values and customs of the
larger society. As a child grows older, the family becomes somewhat less important in his or her
social development.
Peer groups such as friendship cliques, youth gangs and special interest clubs, frequently assist
adolescents in gaining some degree of independent from parents and other elders. Teenagers initiate
their friends in part because the peer group maintains a meaningful system of rewards and
punishments. On the other hand, the group may encourage someone to violate the cultural norms and
values.

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Situation 1- when a child loves to spend more time (almost half of his time) with himself than
others like family, friends etc.
It may be mainly due to the experience, he/she probably faced in their childhood may be they had an
unfavourable family environment .When the family that is father, mother and siblings fail to give
love, protection and care then individual automatically seeks alternative mechanism to release the
distress. Here family, friends, teachers and peers have to play a vital role and to channelize one’s
individual’s needs, wants and motives. These results in making a child more venerable to suicide due
to weak socialisation.
Situation 2-when respondents were average, showing poor participation and poor achievements in
extracurricular activities.
It is revealed that academic achievements and participation play a vital role in moulding an
individual’s behaviour. Lower participation shows an introvert nature since childhood. That is they
like to spend their life within themselves. The introvert behaviour in their school days reflects in their
life situation also. The reason for this introvert ness may be due to a miserable life situation. Hence
respondent can have more suicidal tendencies.
Situation 3-when father of child is strict, aggressive authoritarian and irresponsible towards them.
Fathers who were strict, aggressive authoritarian and irresponsible towards their children and he is
not understanding, promotive, considerate, friendly or sharing. All these influence their childhood.
They automatically became introvert by nature and were filled with the feelings of unwanted ness
and alienation in their life, sharing their worries with none except themselves.
Situation 4-when mother of child is strict, aggressive authoritarian and irresponsible towards
them.
“If the father is the head of the family then mother is the heart of family”. If the heart fails to perform
its function properly, the whole system will collapse. This behaviour is a possible reflection of the ill
experiences in family. Ones’ husband’s alcoholism and constant quarrels in the family automatically
make mothers aggressive towards children. All these ill experiences made black spots in their life.
This could also make one suicidal.
Situation 5-when father has drinking habits.
Father’s drinking habits increased chances of violence within the family and made bitter experiences
in children’s life. May be due to this behaviour he was strict aggressive, irresponsible towards the
child. They didn’t feel he was promotive, considerate and friendly. They felt alienated and isolated

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from family .They will create their own world and spend their days with in it. And if a daughter of
such family after her marriage she faced the same behaviour from husband. All these things made her
suicidal.
Parental alcoholism led to family problems, which in turn created quarrels with in the family; or
family problems caused parental alcoholism which created quarrels with in the family. The quarrels
between family members could have caused problems which may have led to parental alcoholic
behaviour. Whatever may be it always affects children at the home. T.T. Ranganathan (2002) opined
that alcoholism was a family disease, which affected each and every member of the family. It
affected the children with the same intensively with which it affected the wife infant even more.
Children neither have the option nor the mobility to enter into or exit from the parent-child
relationship. While the wife feels trapped, the children are really trapped. The child is emotionally
and situationally helpless. These children harbour a lingering fear, anxiety and stress. They also
experience lots of problems in school like difficulty in concentration or defiance of authority and
truancy. They have problems relating to their classmates, to people around, including their own
family members.
The poor socialization of the respondent makes them situation vulnerable. They faced bitter
experiences from the whole family during their school days. Here both parents and teachers have to
play a vital role in socializing children. These experiences may be one of the reasons for them to
become suicidal later.

Factors or Causes responsible for suicide

Suicide cuts across all sex, age, and economic barriers. People of all ages complete suicide, men
and women as well as young children, the rich as well as the poor. No one is immune to this
tragedy. Why would anyone willingly hasten or cause his or her own death?
Were there financial burdens that couldn't be met? ...marriage or family problems? ...divorce?
...scholastic goals that weren't achieved?...loss of a special friendship?...the death of a close
friend or spouse? A combination of these or other circumstances could have precipitated suicide,
or it could have been a response to a physiological depression. Although many people face
similar problems and overcome them, your loved one could find no solution other than death.
A lot of factors are found to be associated with suicidal behaviour. It has been observed that,
individuals becoming suicidal have identified psychiatric disturbance as the strongest predictor
of future suicidality. In particular, both unipolar and bipolar depressions are associated with the

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greatest suicidal risk. There are many features of family life that have an impact on suicidal
behaviour. Abuse of children, both physically and sexually, appear to result in an increase in
later suicidal behaviour as well as other psychiatric disorders and symptoms.
Medical model-The medical model accept that the causes for suicidal behavior are multiple and
complex and interesting with each other. It includes mental disorders, physical illnesses, alcohol,
substance related problems sociological, psychological and biological factors. The common
mental disorders associated with suicide are mood disorders (depressive disorders), alcohol or
drug dependence and abuse.
The social model of suicidal behaviour- The landmark study of Emile Durkheim on suicidal
behaviour was initiated by the observation of differences in suicidal rates among individuals of
different religious belief systems. The sociological model has remained highly influential for
many years. It is held that social integration of the individual and the strict regulations of the
society were central to suicidal rates. The causative factors for suicide were viewed as social
causes and extra social causes. The psychological constitution of the individual and the external
physical environment were described as the extra social causes. This theory dismissed
pathological states as cause for suicidal behaviour. This can well be understood keeping in mind
the popular thinking of the time. The rapid development of IT, visual media, telecommunication,
the changing world order into a more unipolar world (globalization) compelled micro societies
world over to get more organized in its functioning. Moreover, the matriarchic and matrifocal
joint family systems have progressively broken into nuclear or single parent families. As the
culture barriers started to crumple, and societies started getting more and more reorganized, into
small units family support for the disadvantaged in the joint family disappears. So it becomes
mandatory to view suicidal behaviour as a pathological manifestation, which needs correction.
Psychological factors in suicide-More recent psychological theories of suicide explains the
suicidal behaviour as resulting from fantasies about what would happen if they commit suicide.
It may include wishes for revenge, power, control, punishment or sacrifice. It may also be
thought of as an escape or sleep. Again imagination of rebirth or reunion with dead or a new life
might lead people into such act. In general, it is found that married couples in which one partner
attempts suicide have poorer communication between each other and more destructive conflicts
(such as avoiding discussion and fleeing the home), and that the suicidal partner is more
psychiatrically disturbed. The suicide proneness among the people of the state is definitely

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related to the social changes taking place in the region. This has regional, sub-regional, or district
level variations as well. Some of the major social changes that have taken place in the state
which have probably influenced the suicide scenario in the state are: a) the transformation in the
family b) the changes in the educational system, c) the influence of the media, d) the gulf boom,
e) women’s employment, f) increased use of alcohol, are g) the consumer culture sweeping the
state. These are the social, economic and psychological factors responsible for suicide.
Depression and Suicide-Depression is a serious condition that can impact every area of life. It
can affect social life, family relationships, career, and sense of self-worth and purpose.
Depression is not "one size fits all," particularly when it comes to the genders. Not only are
women more prone to depression than men, many factors contribute to the unique picture of
depression in women-from reproductive hormones to social pressures to the female response to
stress. There is no one cause of depression. For some people, a single event can bring on the
illness. Depression often strikes people who felt fine but who suddenly find they are dealing with
a death in the family or a serious illness. For some people, changes in the brain can affect mood
and cause depression. Sometimes, those under a lot of stress, like caregivers, can feel depressed.
Others become depressed for no clear reason. People with serious illnesses, such as cancer,
diabetes, heart disease, stroke, may become depressed. They may worry about how their illness
will change their lives. They might be tired and not able to deal with things that make them sad.
Treatment for depression can help them manage their depressive symptoms and improve their
quality of life. While analysing depression and age the elders were highly depressed than the
younger generation. Among youngsters the major causes are separation of beloved ones, failure
in love and lack of parental support. In the elder age group the cause of depression were
alcoholism and inability to cope with children and spouse. While analysing family income and
depression most of the suicide were from lower income group. They had economic constraints
such as inability to meet daily needs, educating children, expense for the health of the family and
inability to meet changing needs of children. These were the major causes of depression among
lower income groups. Even though they have these economic constraints, in this study there were
very rare cases of those who attempted suicide purely due to economic problems. But in the case
of higher income the major cause of depression may be a change in life style and changing
situations in family or workplace. Hence one sees that economic causes are not purely the reason

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of suicide but others social factors are too involved. Economic background of the suicide
attempter matters but instances are not that high. Social factors lead to more the cause of suicide.

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DATA ANALYSIS OF SUICIDE TREND IN INDIA

Rate of Suicides — Trends in States/UTs

National average-10.6

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It can be concluded that 19 states are above the National average which is quite alarming.

Rate of suicides i.e. the number of suicides per one lakh population, has been widely accepted as
a standard yardstick for comparison. All India rate of suicides was 10.6 during the year 2015.
Puducherry reported the highest rate of suicide (43.2) followed by Sikkim (37.5), A & N Islands
(28.9), Telangana and Chhattisgarh (27.7 each) and Dadar & Nagar Haveli (25.4).

States /UTs with Higher Suicide Rate during 2013 to 2015

Puducherry continued to report high suicide rate during last 3 years which has been more than 3
times of the national average during the period. This indicates that the problem has not been
recognised and preventative measures are not taken by government, NGOs and people have
shown concerns towards the issue in Puducherry.

Causes of Suicides (Percentage Share of Various Causes of

Suicides During 2015) in India:

Family Problems’ and ‘Illness’ were the major causes of suicides which accounted for for 27.6%
and 15.8% of total suicides respectively during 2015. ‘Marriage Related Issues’ (4.8%),
‘Bankruptcy’ & ‘Love Affairs’ (3.3% each), ‘Drug Abuse/Alcoholic Addiction’ (2.7%) and
‘Failure in Examination’ & ‘Unemployment’ (2.0% each), ‘Property Dispute’ (1.9%), Poverty
(1.3%) and Professional/Career Problem (1.2%) were other causes of suicides.

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The above pie-chart indicates numerous reasons for suicide. The most prominent one is
Family issues which can be due the poor socialisation, modernisation and lost values of
traditional systems among people. The second major share is kept in other causes which
comprises of Poverty, Unemployment, Physical Abuse, Professional/Career Problem, etc.

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Suicide Victims by Sex and Age Group during 2015 in India

. From the above graph we can see that Male in 2015 ,the age group of 30 years -
45 years do most no of suicide in comparsion with other Age groups in Male.

. On the other hand Female the Age group of 18 yrs -30 yrs do the most no of
suicide in comaparision with other Age groups in Female .

.Male and Female in the Age group below 14 years do lowest no of suicide in
comparision with other Age groups.

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Percentage share of Suicide Victims by Educational Status during
2015 in India

The Above pie-chart examines education and suicide. An educated person is one with knowledge
and knowledge brings light in life but due to high unemployment rates and highly competitive
education makes educated one frustrated and go for suicide. Analysing the data we see that
persons with Middle education level are more prone to suicide. Then comes Primary education
level. Hence we can trace a relation that higher the level of education lower is the suicide rate
like Professional commit suicide 0.4% only.

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Percentage of Means/Mode Adopted by Victims to Commit Suicide during
2014-2015 in India

The Above data talks about methods adopted by suicide committers. The most adopted method is
Hanging themselves. The other most common method is by Poisoning themselves.
These two methods are quite easily available to people. Even though getting poison a bit though
but given to people by medical stores without precautions and inquiry. Hanging is most common.

Incidence and Rate of Suicides during the Decade (2005–2015) in India

Rate of suicides has been calculated using mid-year projected population for the non-
census years whereas for the census year 2011, the population of The Population
Census 2011 was used. The number of suicides in the country during the decade
(2005–2015) have recorded an increase of 17.3% (1,33,623 in 2015 from 1,13,914 in
2005). The increase in number of suicides was reported each year till 2011 thereafter

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a declining trend has been noticed till 2014 and it again increased by 1.5% in
2015over 2014 (from 1,31,666 suicides in 2014 to 1,33,623 suicides in 2015). The
population has increased by 14.2% during the decade while the rate of suicides has
slightly increased by 2.9% (from 10.3 in 2005 to 10.6 in 2015). The rate of suicides is
showing a mixed trend during the decade (2005-2015), however, rate of suicides is
showing declining trend since 2010.

Mid-Year Projected
Sl. Total Number of Rate of Suicides***
Year Population*
No. Suicides (Col.3/Col.4)
(in Lakh)**
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

1 2011 1,35,585 12,101.9# 11.2

2 2012 1,35,445 12,133.7 11.2

3 2013 1,34,799 12,287.9 11.0

4 2014 1,31,666 12,440.4 10.6

5 2015 1,33,623 12,591.1 10.6

* –Mid-year Projected Population as on 1st July; Source:

The Registrar General of India # --Population of the
Population Census, 2011; Source: The Registrar General
of India

** – One Lakh = 0.1 Million

*** – Rate of Suicides = Incidence of suicides per one lakh(1,00,000) of population.

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CONCLUSIONS, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

“Suicide is a paradoxical phenomenon. On the hand it appears to be the most personal action an
individual can take. On the other hand, it is ubiquitous, has occurred throughout human history in all
corners of the world and often under circumstances that show such a striking similarity that one has but to
conclude that social factors play an important, if not decisive role in its causation. As important as those
who lost their lives by suicide are those who have failed in their prior attempts kill themselves. It is said
that about ten times as many as those who commit suicide are those who fail in such attempts and
continue to live with different degrees of physical, mental and social disabilities. Suicide is the second
leading cause of death among school age youth. However, suicide is preventable. Youth who are
contemplating suicide frequently give warning signs of their distress. Parents, teachers, and friends are in
a key position to pick up on these signs and get help. Most important is to never take these warning signs
lightly or promise to keep them secret. When all adults and students in the school community are
committed to making suicide prevention a priority-and are empowered to take the correct actions-we can
help youth before they engage in behaviour with irreversible consequences. Children and adolescents
spend a substantial part of their day in school under the supervision of school personnel.
Effective suicide and violence prevention is integrated with supportive mental health services,
engages the entire school community, and is imbedded in a positive school climate through
student behavioural expectations and a caring and trusting student/adult relationship. Therefore,
it is crucial for all school staff members to be familiar with, and watchful for, risk factors and
warning signs of suicidal behaviour. The entire school staff should work to create an
environment where students feel safe sharing such information. School psychologists and other
crisis response team personnel, including the school counsellor and school administrator, are
trained to intervene when a student is identified at risk for suicide. These individuals conduct
suicide risk assessment, warn/inform parents, provide recommendations and referrals to
community services, and often provide follow up counselling and support at school. Even if a
youth is judged to be at low risk for suicidal behaviour, schools may ask parents to sign a
documentation form to indicate that relevant information has been provided. Parental
notifications must be documented. Additionally, parents are crucial members of a suicide risk
assessment as they often have information critical to making an appropriate assessment of risk,
including mental health history, family dynamics, recent traumatic events, and previous suicidal

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behaviours. After a school notifies a parent of their child's risk for suicide and provides referral
information, the responsibility falls upon the parent to seek mental health assistance for their
child. Parents must:

Continue to take threats seriously: Follow through is important even after the child calms down
or informs the parent "they didn't mean it." Avoid assuming behaviour is simply attention
seeking (but at the same time avoid reinforcing suicide threats; e.g., by allowing the student who
has threatened suicide to drive because they were denied access to the car).

Access school supports: If parents are uncomfortable with following through on referrals, they
can give the school psychologist permission to contact the referral agency, provide referral
information, and follow up on the visit.

Maintain communication with the school: After such an intervention, the school will also provide
follow-up supports. Your communication will be crucial to ensuring that the school is the safest,
most comfortable place for your child.

In these ways one help a person who is more venerable to suicide.

FINDINGS
▪ There is direct relation between economic background and suicide but suicide purely due
to economic reasons are very less.
▪ People often commit suicide more arising from poor socialisation, depression and
psychiatric illness.
▪ The unemployment rate is too a factor which cause high rates of suicide among the
youths. Relevant government policies can tackle the problem of unemployment. People
should not just aim for government jobs but go for private jobs also because “Something
is better than nothing”.
▪ Preventive measures should taken up by government, NGOs and family to improve
socialisation in the society and traditional values must be restored.
▪ Regulations should be made by government on the different sources of suicide like
poison, drugs, and sleeping pills.
▪

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SUGGESTIONS
RECOMMENDATIONS
The recommended remedial measures are at three levels
a) At individual and family level
▪ Attitudinal change and positive thinking
▪ Maintain healthy relationship within the family
▪ Proper planning at family level leading to a family budget
▪ Better relationship with neighbours and relative
▪ Give importance to religious practices
▪ Value based and Job oriented education
▪ Membership in health insurance scheme
• Avoiding bad habits like alcoholism and drug addiction
• Promoting gender balance at family level

b) At Civil Society/ NGO level

▪ Identification of the needy and provide timely support
▪ Conduct massive awareness programmes
▪ Befriending and counselling services
▪ Capacity building and skill training
▪ Promote job oriented education
▪ Promotion of family budgeting
c) At religious institution level

▪ Promotion of human values among the people

▪ Family counselling centres
▪ Promotion of meaningful religious practices
▪ Life oriented awareness programmes
▪ Education support to poor children
▪ Promotion and preservation of life
▪ Personal attention to the family in crisis

Other suggestions

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▪ Encourage people to talk to others, particularly when they are in emotional distress and
confusion. “When you are in distress talk to a friend; when your friend is in distress listen
to them” could be a good policy to follow.
▪ Strengthening workplace informal gatherings and facilitate closer interpersonal
communication between colleagues.
▪ The other members of the family like the cousins, in-laws and relatives should show the
willingness to intervene when close relatives or family member are found to be in
difficulty.
▪ It needs to be ‘be concerned and interested in the personal matters of the family members
and be willing to help if help is needed.
▪ It also found that marriage, which could be a cushion for the distressed, has often
functioned as a stressor. What are needed are urgent measures to enhance the capacity of
the distressed to ventilate feelings in confidence and to mobilize the community’s
resources to intervene in crisis situations.

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 REFERENCES

. Caruso, Kevin. Suicide Causes, London: Barlow press, 1994

. Durkheim, E. Suicide, New York: Free Press, 1897

. Durkheim, Emile. Suicide: A Study in Sociology, London: Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd., 1968

. Montgomery, S A and Goeting, Nicola L.M Eds., Current Approaches: Suicide and Attempted
Suicide; Risk Factors, Management and Prevention, Southampton: Duphar Laboratories Ltd.,
1991

.Menninger, Karl. Man Against Himself, New York: Harcourt, Brace & World Inc., 1938

. National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, 2001

. Neale, Robert E. The Art of Dying, New York: Harper & Row Publishers, 1973

. ‘Suicide’ The Oxford English Dictionary Vol-X, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1978

• Björkenstam, Charlotte;
Weitoft, Gunilla Ringbäck;
Hjern, Anders;
Nordström,Peter;
Hallqvist ,Johan;
Ljung ,Rickard (2011). School grades, parental education and suicide—a national
register-based cohort study, Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health , Vol. 65,
No. 11 pp. 993-998
• Strother, Deborah Burnett (1986). Suicide Among the Young ,The Phi Delta Kappan,
Vol. 67, No. 10 pp. 756-759
• Rickgarn ,Ralph L.V. (1987). Youth Suicide: Update on a Continuing Health Issue,
Educational Horizons, Vol. 65, No. 3, pp. 128-129
• Evans, Julia R.;
Velsor, Patricia Van;

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 E. Schumacher, Joseph (2002). Addressing Adolescent Depression: A Role for School
Counsellors, Professional School Counselling, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 211-219

• Carroll Patrick W. O';

Potter Lloyd B.;
Mercy James A(1994). Programs for the Prevention of Suicide Among Adolescents and
Young Adults, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: Recommendations and Reports,
Vol. 43, No. RR-6 pp. 1, 3-7

Websites
▪ http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in
▪ www.thehindu.com
▪ keralapolice.gov.in
▪ http://ncrb.gov.in

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