BANGALORE: On World Suicide Prevention Day , the IT city has its task cut out given the fact that it is described as the suicide capital of India. Beginning 2009, Bangalore with 2,167 suicides, has led the country in the number of suicides, according to the National Crime Records Bureau . In 2010, the city recorded 1,778 suicides, a good 13% of the total suicides committed that year in the country. However, the only silver lining is that the number of suicides in the city is coming down. But doctors are still worried as suicide is rampant among students and young professionals, in the age group of 15-34 years. Experts believe migrants in the city are most vulnerable to suicidal tendencies. "The city is home to a huge migrant population, both students and professionals. In the absence of a family support system to fall back on, they are unable to deal with any crisis. Also, there is a lack of protective mechanism in the individual making him or her further vulnerable," said Dr G Gururaj, professor and head, department of epidemiology, WHO Collaborating Centre for Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (Nimhans). Consider this. At Manipal Hospital , on any given weekday, IT professionals seeking psychiatric help make for 40% of total outpatients. On Saturdays, the number climbs up to 60%. "It is simply because most of them are away from home and they are under huge stress, both at work and home. The relationships around them are also quite fragile and they are not comfortable bonding with their partners either," said Dr SG Murali Raj, head of the psychiatry department at Manipal Hospital. Adolescent children, being in the vulnerable age-group, are unable to connect with their parents. While most parents are busy pursuing their respective careers, the rest just don't connect with their kids and the latter end up feeling isolated. What experts prescribe *Early recognition of the problem in the behavioural manifestations of the individual - by the individual himself or those around him *There is no substitute to quality counselling. Appoint professional counsellors to help the person overcome crisis. Both at workplace and in schools, give the distressed individuals a platform to voice their issues *Limit the availability of drugs *Introduce life skills classes in educational institutions