Delhi leads in suicide cases

More people also ended their lives in all the seven N-E states in 2006

NEW DELHI: Incidents of suicide in the country have shot up to 1,18,112 in 2006 from 1,13,697 in 2004, with capital Delhi also accounting for the sharp rise.

Delhi saw 1,492 persons taking the extreme step in 2006, against 1,245 cases in 2005. The figure was more or less the same at 1,256 cases in 2004, as per data available with the National Crime Record Bureau.

Lakshadweep, which had a clean slate in 2004 and 2005, opened its account with two suicide cases in 2006. But, in contrast, all other UTs — Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu and Puducherry — registered a fall in suicide cases.

The increasing trend has prompted the National Mental Health Programme to take effective steps for suicide prevention, Union Home Ministry sources said. During the 11th Plan, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has re-strategised the National Mental Health Programme to include a component of District Mental Health Programme, they said.

The highest number of suicides last year was recorded in West Bengal at 15,725, followed by Maharashtra at 15,494, Andhra Pradesh at 13,276, Tamil Nadu at 12,381 and Karnataka at 12,212.

Interestingly, all the seven northeastern states have recorded an increase in the number of suicide cases during the same period.