Ambika Sharma
Tribune News Service
Solan, September 12
Men are more prone to committing suicides in Himachal Pradesh as compared to women.
This tendency is more pronounced in the youth while it declines with the increasing age as per an analysis undertaken on suicide by the 108 GVK Emergency Management Service.
As many as 343 suicides have been reported in the state from 2011 to 2021. While nine cases were reported in 2011, this number rose to 18 in 2012 and 51 in 2014. There was some respite in 2015 and 2016 but 60 cases were reported by the emergency services in 2017. The number of suicides saw a dip in 2018 with merely 25 cases being reported but they again increased to 40 in 2019 and 48 in 2020. As many as 37 cases have been reported in 2021 till now.
Those committed suicide comprise 68 per cent men.
As many as 41 per cent of the victims are in the age group of 19-30 years followed by 23 per cent in the age group of 31 to 40 years and 20 per cent for the age group of up to 18 years while 16 per cent in the age group of above 41 years.
"The alarming facts have brought to focus the increasing need to address the sense of despair which drives a person to commit suicide," said Mehul Sukumaran, state head, 108 GVK EMRI.
As many as 81 per cent of the suicide/self-harm emergencies are reported at the centre from 9 am to 12 noon with the highest frequency of 43 per cent being reported between 4 pm and 12 midnight.
The maximum suicides have been reported from Kangra district followed by Solan, Mandi, Shimla, Sirmaur, Hamirpur, Una, Bilaspur, Chamba, Kullu, Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti.
Smaller districts like Solan is placed second in the number of suicides vis-agrave;-vis larger districts like Mandi and Shimla.
"GVK EMRI contributions range from saving lives through 108 emergency ambulance services by prompt response wherever there is an opportunity to save lives to significantly reducing deaths," he said.
Courtesy: Tribune News Service