The suicide rate among the adolescent is alarmingly high in the country and, though preventable, the government and the society have done very little on this front.
So much so, mental illness, which pushes people to take their own lives, is yet to be considered a serious health problem here.
About 80 per cent of the total suicide cases are the results of mental disorder, most significantly depression and this problem is yet to be considered seriously, said Dr Kapil Dev Upadhyaya, medical director at the Mental Hospital.
It is really very worrisome that suicide rate among adolescents is increasing to such an extent that the population is now grouped as the highest risk in a third of countries, including both the developed and developing one, said Dr Upadhyaya.
The suicide rate was 12.5 per 100,000 of all ages, of which 18.9 per cent were males and 4.8 per cent females, a survey done by Dr Upadhyaya and Sociologist K John Paul in Kaski district in 1998 showed.
Sucide rate in India is 11 per 100,000 and Sri Lanka has 37 per 100,000, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Around 2,500 people commit suicide each year in Nepal, according to the Crime Investigation Department at the Police Headquarters.
In Ilam district, which is notorious in terms of high suicide rate, 19 persons committed suicide last year. In the last three months, altogether four persons committed suicide in the district, records revealed.
Dr Upadhyaya said suicide is a multi-sectoral public health problem and can be prevented with proper support programmes.
"Substances which can be used to take lives, such as insecticides and sleeping pills should not be made easily assessable. The government should promote counseling and improvement in the treatment facility," he said.
The high-rise age group should be identified and administered with timely treatment and counseling.
Suicides by women are generally the result of domestic violence, frustration and other social factors, said DN Parajuli, a human rights activist.
Dr Nirakar Man Shrestha, the special secretary at the Ministry of Health said the government has given priority to creating awareness on depression and seeking medical help in order to check the increasing rate of suicides.
Besides mental disorder, suicide results from substance abuse including alcohol and drugs, complex socio-cultural factors and is more likely to occur particularly during periods of socio-economic, family and individual crisis situations, such as loss of a loved one, employment and honour.
In this context, World Mental Health Day is being celebrated worldwide today with the theme "Building Awareness - Reducing Risk: Mental Illness and Suicide."
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THT Online Renu Kshetry Kathmandu, October 10, 2006
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