Picture used for representational purpose

CHANDIGARH: Depression and stress are the main reasons for suicide in the 30-35 age group in men. This is what the data of the nodal centre for the prevention of suicide in Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) 32 reveals from January 2019 until mid of June. A total of 52 suicides have been committed in this year in Chandigarh.

On Friday, a Punjab government official allegedly committed suicide after jumping from the Punjab Civil Secretariat building. His suicide note mentioned that he was going through a lot of stress.

As per the data compiled by the GMCH, out of 52 cases, 38 were men. And the majority of them were between the age group of 30 years and 35 years. the common-mode was hanging, and the main reasons were depression and stress. In 2018, there were 95 such cases reported in the nodal centre, GMCH. “Our data is based on police record and the cases reported here,” said an official in GMCH

Quarrel with wife, extramarital relation, failure in class 12th examination, undergoing long-term treatment for chronic disease were various reasons for suicide.

“Mode of suicide is determined by accessibility. For instance, a surgeon may use something like morphine or anaesthetic agent. Reasons are multifactorial and it is stress-related. Young people commit more suicide as they are more exposed to stress,” said Dr Shubh Mohan Singh, department of psychiatry , PGI.

The shrinks feel that mental health is a neglected field. “However, to know the reason why someone committed suicide is difficult to find. It needs a psychological autopsy, where the family members are interviewed,” said Dr Singh.

Are there ways to stop people from taking some impulsive decisions of ending life? “It is difficult to make out who will commit suicide. One needs to be careful and can be known in risk group only. I see many patients, but it is not possible to know who will commit suicide,” said Dr Singh.

