Over 3200 Suicides in Assam in 2021: Why the surge?

• Image Credit: TIME 8

• Sep 2, 2022 | Kabir Chakraborty

According to reports, 231 people opted to take their lives owing to illness, particularly mental health, while 170 more were apparently compelled to commit suicide by poverty. At least 190 of the 231 people who passed away from sickness were mentally ill. color:black;mso-themecolor:text1">

color:black;mso-themecolor:text1">Digital Desk: In a horrific incident, a
40-year-old man named Bishnu Devnath reportedly leaped in front of a speeding
train on Friday and killed himself in the Khudia neighbourhood of Nalbari
district. His financial situation was thought to be the driving force behind
the extreme course.

color:black;mso-themecolor:text1">Locals asserted that he had enormous debts as
a result of the financial crisis brought on by COVID-19-led circumstances over
the previous two years. Devnath was a staff member at a neighbourhood jewelry store, but he was thought to be depressed.

color:black;mso-themecolor:text1">Devnath was not by himself, though. Over the
past few years, Assam has seen an increase in suicide instances. While Assam
recorded 3,243 suicides in 2020- a 36.9% increase from 2019- the figure
increased in 2021.

color:black;mso-themecolor:text1">According to a report from the National Crime
Records Bureau (NCRB), the state reported 3262 suicide cases in 2017. Of them,
2351 were men, and 659 were day gamblers.

color:black;mso-themecolor:text1">At least eight people commit suicide every
day in 2021. According to the NCRB survey, the most common causes of suicide
were poverty, unemployment, career-related concerns, illness, and family
troubles.

color:black;mso-themecolor:text1">According to the NCRB data, at least 1191
suicides were caused solely by family issues in 2021. While 411 people lost
their lives to unemployment, 205 perished as a result of issues with their
careers.

color:black;mso-themecolor:text1">According to reports, 231 people opted to
take their lives owing to illness, particularly mental health, while 170 more
were apparently compelled to commit suicide by poverty. At least 190 of the 231
people who passed away from sickness were mentally ill.

color:black;mso-themecolor:text1">Additionally, at least 40 students committed
suicide in Assam in 2021 as a result of failing their exams.

color:black;mso-themecolor:text1">The research also showed that while the state
has been experiencing an increase in suicide instances, Guwahati, the state
capital, was found to be leading these statistics.

color:black;mso-themecolor:text1">The city police claim that at least 222
suicides occurred in the capital city in 2013, 220 occurred in 2014, 241
occurred in 2015, 227 occurred in 2016, 289 occurred in 2017, 287 occurred in
2018, 254 occurred in 2019, 277 occurred in 2020, and 414 occurred in 2021.

color:black;mso-themecolor:text1">It's shocking that despite the fact that
there are still a few months left in the current year, the city has already had
over 400 suicides.

color:black;mso-themecolor:text1">It's a worrying pattern. It is concerning
that some people have chosen the extreme route due to issues with unemployment,
mental illness, and poverty. It demonstrated the urgent need for a more
effective response to the post-COVID-19 crisis situation, according to Shilpi
Hazarika, a local psychiatrist.