Ahmedabad records alarming 30% jump in suicides in 2012

AHMEDABAD: The city is on the edge, its people getting more desperate. 'Accident Deaths and Suicides in India -2012', a report of the National Crime Records Bureau released recently, Ahmedabad has recorded an alarming 30% jump in the number of people committing suicide. As many as 614 people killed themselves in 2012, compared to 470 in 2011. And many of them were youngsters.

As a whole, Gujarat recorded a 11.4% jump in suicides with 7,110 people ending their lives in 2012. Rajkot emerged as the suicide hot spot recording the third highest suicide rate of 30.5% in India.

Surprisingly, maximum Gujaratis who abruptly ended their journey of life were young — 40% were between 15 and 29. Ahmedabad nosed ahead here too with 44%. The statistic reflects in the shocking death of post graduate medical student Dr Shail Buch, 24, who told his father he was coming home but threw himself in front of a train instead.

Of all suicide, 4,362 were men (61%) and 2,748 women (39%). Housewives were the biggest casualty of the wave of depression and anxiety engulfing the people and were one-fourth of the suicide victims in Gujarat.

Self-employed people, including businessmen, professionals and traders were the second most stressed group with 23.5% killing themselves.

Family ties that bind also led people to the noose — 18% of suicide victims ended their lives, fed up with family problems. Illnesses, failed love affairs, unemployment and failure in exams constituted most cited reasons for taking the extreme step.

Experts said that there are multiple factors responsible for high suicide rate. "Gujarat is being projected as most developed state in India but opportunities are not growing as per the hype. Frustration is rising, opportunities are shrinking," said psychiatrist Dr Hansal Bhachech.

"Every man and woman is an island now. Family ties not as strong as in the past. In the name of privacy, we have created a culture of isolation where people often find themselves fighting their battles alone. Even friendships have become limited to liking each other on social media. This is taking a toll," says sociologist Dr Gaurang Jani.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Ahmedabad-records-alarming-30-jump-in-suicides-in-2012/articleshow/20768722.cms