Himachal govt collecting data on suicides: Official

The Himachal Pradesh government is in the process of compiling data on suicides committed in the state, an official said on Thursday on the occasion of World Mental Health Day.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Himachal Pradesh State Mental Health Authority (HPSMHA) Sanjay Pathak said that the step is being taken as there was no official data on the suicide rate in the hill-state.

"Exact data of suicides in HP is not available. However, we are obtaining the figures from police stations and district hospitals and will soon come out with the findings," Pathak told PTI.

Citing the national average suicide rate of 10.6 persons per one lakh population, Pathak said Himachal Pradesh has a population of around 74 lakh and therefore, on an average, at least two people commit suicide daily in the hill-state.

"As per ratio of suicides of 10.6 persons per lakh at national level annually, 700-800 persons in HP commit suicide every year," Pathak said.

"Unmarried and single persons commit more suicides as compared to married persons," he added.

Assistant Professor cum Psychologist at Shoolini University in Solan, Anita Chauhan, said: "Stress and not being able to speak one's mind to another person are also among the main reasons apart from social causes for suicides."
Pathak said: "Close circle of the patient, family and friends should be able to pick up the suicidal ideation and thoughts of the patient and seek psychological and psychiatric help to deal with the problem."