PUDUCHERRY: Puducherry has reported the highest rate of suicide in the country for the third consecutive year. At 35.6 in 2013, it is three times higher compared to the national average of 11 in 2013.
According to data provided by Maitreyi, a crisis intervention and suicide prevention centre, Puducherry is followed by Sikkim (29.3), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (28.8), Tripura(25.9) and Kerala(24.6).
Majority of the suicides has been due to alcoholism and its associated reasons, said Kumar of Maitreyi. Family problems, financial issues, work- related problems and ill-health have led to the suicides, he said. Below 30 years, the number of deaths of both men and women was equal.
The World Suicide Prevention Day is observed on September 10 based on the theme ‘Suicide Prevention: One World Connected’, he said .
According to WHO, each year over eight lakh people commit suicide in the world. This corresponds to death by suicide every 40 seconds. The number of lives lost each year through suicide exceeds the number of deaths arising out of homicide and war combined. In India, 1,34,799 people took their lives during 2013.