Hyderabad: As the world observes World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, the Telugu states are experiencing a worrying growth in the number of suicides.
According to the Accidental Deaths and Suicides Report 2022, India reported around 1.7 lakh suicide incidents in 2022. Maharashtra led the list with 22,746, followed by Tamil Nadu 19,834 and Madhya Pradesh 13,606.
Telangana reported 9,980 suicides in 2022, accounting for 5.8 per cent of the total suicides in the country. In 2021, the state recorded 10,171 suicides. Although the numbers have decreased by 1.9 per cent, Telangana has the fifth-highest suicide rate in India; crossing the country's average of 12.4 by two folds at 26.3.
While Visakhapatnam reported 461 suicide cases — 350 male and 111 female, in 2022 as against 378 in 2021, Hyderabad reported 544 suicides in 2022, accounting for 5.45 per cent of the state's figures.
In Vizag, 106 people died by suicide due to family problems, while in 91 cases it was due to ill-health. 28 suicide cases were attributed to drug abuse/alcohol addiction; 18 were reported due to love affairs and 10 due to unemployment. While nine cases reportedly resulted from poverty, six were due to failure in examination.
Hyderabad saw 112 deaths by suicide due to bankruptcy or debt burden and 138 deaths due to illnesses. Around 120 people died by suicide due to family problems, while marriage-related issues led to 10 suicides. Love affairs were the reason for 13 deaths in the city, while eight incidents were reported due to drug or alcohol addictions and 13 men died by suicide due to unemployment.
Several public and private organisations in the two states are actively working towards helping people in distress through helpline numbers and counselling. Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Dr Neha Reddy, a city-based psychologist, said, "The growing number of suicides shows how important it is to raise mental health awareness and make it easier for people to get help."
Today is World Suicide Prevention Day
