Assam witnessed 36.8% more suicides last year than 2019

GUWAHATI: Assam last year recorded 3,243 suicides, an average of 8.88 daily, which was an increase of 36.8% over the previous year. More than 50% of those who took their lives were unemployed and daily wage earners, according to the latest data from the Centre.
A total of 974 unemployed people and 789 daily wage earners died by suicide during the pandemic-hit lockdown period accounting for over 54% of the total suicide victims in the state in 2020, the report showed. Out of 3,243 suicides, 2,337 were male and 906 female, it added.
Though the report didn't mention Covid and the lockdown as likely reasons for the rise in suicides, an Assam government-sponsored 2020 study had predicted that nearly half of the state's population could be pushed into poverty if the present crisis increased the state's unemployment rate of 8% by more than two folds. According to an National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) study in 2011-12, the poverty headcount ratio in the state stands at 32%.
There is also an increase in the number of suicides among students. About 390 committed suicides in 2020 compared to 357 in 2019. According to the latest report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), family problems accounted for 42.7% of the suicides in 2020, while love affairs also claimed 13.38% lives. Assam also saw 10 cases of mass or family suicides where 10 people lost their lives.
The suicide rate (per lakh population) also increased from 6.9 in 2019 to 9.3 last year, the NCRB, which functions under the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA), stated on Thursday. The national average of the rate is 11.3.
Mental health experts believe suicide among children and adolescents is increasing due to insecure attachments and emotional disconnection with parents, friends and families. "Stress over job prospects, joblessness and financial inequality may lead many to take the extreme step," they said, and added that experts expected an increase in suicides due to the situation arising out of Covid-19.
"Unemployment, Covid related stress and financial recession have resulted in depression and suicide. Another major issue is post Covid depression," they said.
A total of 2,011 people, whose annual earnings were less than Rs 1 lakh and 998 others, who earned Rs 1 lakh and above but less than Rs 5 lakh, committed suicide. The report shows that of the total number of people who died, 673 had no education and 505 had studied up to Class V.