The locals bore witness to the entire incident but did not take any steps to stop the 35-year-old man from taking the drastic step (Representative Image). | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Key Highlights On Sunday afternoon, a 35-year-old man battling psychiatric problems committed suicide in Chennai The man jumped off his flat located on the second floor while holding his daughter and died on the spot The deceased is survived by another child and wife

Chennai: A man in Chennai jumped off the second floor of an apartment complex while holding his daughter on Sunday afternoon. The man, identified as Thirupathi Reddy, is said to have psychiatric problems.

Reddy jumped off his flat on the second floor in Madhavaram with his four-year-old child in Madhavaram area of Chennai. Both the man and his daughter died on the spot. Reddy's child was identified as T Harika.

Around 2 pm on Sunday, Reddy went to the balcony of his flat and climbed the parapet. The man climbed up the parapet while holding four-year-old Harika and jumped from there.

The locals witnessed the entire incident but did not take any steps to stop the 35-year-old man from taking the drastic step. After Reddy and his daughter fell on the road, the locals rushed them to a nearby hospital where they were declared brought dead.

The bodies were later shifted to the Government Stanley Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem. An investigating officer told The Times of India that the man did not write a suicide note.

As per the preliminary investigation, Reddy worked as a cashier at a garlic godown. He had been combating psychiatric issues for the last several months and often skipped work due to the same. Reddy was seeking treatment at a private hospital for his ailment.

Mental Healthcare Act, 2017

In April 2017, the Indian government superseded the Mental Health Act, 1987 and introduced the Mental Healthcare Act 2017. The Act decriminalised attempt to suicide and stated that the rights of people combating mental illness should be safeguarded. It is a set of rules and guidelines intended to dispel the taboo that surrounds mental health and issues.

A research done by an online journal 'Lancet Public Health' states that across the globe, eight lakh people die due to suicide every year. The research concluded that "suicide death rates in India are among the highest in the world. A large proportion of adult suicide deaths occur between the ages of 15 years and 29 years, especially in women".

Another research conducted by the online journal raised concerns over suicide prevention methods used in the country. The journal read, "suicide is a major public health problem, with far-reaching socio-economic, political, and emotional consequences."

Suicide helplines in India

AASRA, a helpline that caters to people in distress can be contacted on the following number- 022 2754 6669.

An NGO that helps in preventing suicide, Roshni can be contacted on this number- +914066202000.

Founded in 2003, COOJ and its representatives can be contacted on +918322252525.