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Suicides on the rise in Bangalore, Kerala

George Iype in Bangalore and Kochi

Kerala and Bangalore, which rank high on education and human development indices, have the highest suicide rates in south India, according to figures prepared by voluntary groups and government agencies.

According to Sneha Lifeline, a non-government organisation, Kerala has the highest suicide rate. Figures for the last seven years show that 39 out of 100,000 persons chose to take their lives. From 1992 to 1999, an average 780 people committed suicide every month in Kerala.

In Bangalore, there were 32 suicides per 100,000 population in 1998 and it increased to 35 in 1999. Nearly 60 per cent who commit suicide are aged 18 to 40.

National Crime Records Bureau figures show that more than 100,000 persons commit suicide in India every year. The number of suicides in the country has been climbing steadily since the eighties. In 1981, there were 40,245 suicides. But it touched 84,244 by 1993 and climbed to 94,000 in 1996 and to more than 100,000 in 1999.

Sociologists and experts studying Kerala and Bangalore - because both have three times the national average of suicides - point out that the figures do not include attempts.

"The number of suicides in Bangalore is curious, as suicide rates in the rest of Karnataka is pretty low compared to Tamil Nadu or Maharashtra," said Anand Kumar, a Bangalore-based psychologist.

Kumar is perplexed by the alarming rise. "Both places have highly-educated people, a good climate and a largely violence-free social and economic life. Therefore, it is alarming that more people are prone to depression and suicide," Kumar said.

Kumar said the information technology revolution in Bangalore was stretching the limits of normal people. "Many patients are young software engineers who are under tremendous pressure to perform. They fear that if they do not, they will perish," he stated.

Dr Nitya Kiran, a psychiatrist who is a consultant in some city hospitals, agreed. "Bangalore's transformation from a cool, garden city to the hi-tech Silicon Valley of India has changed lifestyles immensely. But the older generation is feeling left out. This results in depression and suicides," Dr Kiran said.

According to Sneha Lifeline consultant Malini Mohan, when expectations run high, frustration levels also soar. "The net effect can be seen in Bangalore."

"Bangalore has been attracting investments and has seen an IT boom. It has dramatically changed lives. Many who cannot cope simply opt to die," she said.

Dr Mathew Tharakan, a psychologist in Kochi, said the main reasons for suicides in Kerala were alcohol, financial problems and social stigma. "Kerala has the highest per capita consumption of liquor among men. Many women are taking their lives because of alcoholic husbands," he said.

He said the high rate of literacy and other social development indices have not helped bring down suicide rates.

"There has been a rapid growth of consumerism in the last two decades due to the Gulf-centric money order economy. This has exaggerated standards of living. When some fail, there is tension and social stigma," Dr Tharakan said.

According to Maithri, a voluntary group in Kerala, the number of family suicides has been steadily rising.

"We are studying dozens of cases where parents murder children and commit suicide or children are forced to commit suicide along with family members," Mathew Mammen, a Maithri member, said.

Reports of family suicides have forced the government in association with non-government organisations to launch Nanma (virtue), a suicide prevention initiative. Counselling centres are being set up in hospitals and distress telephone lines are being established across the state.

Voluntary groups in Bangalore point out that a public health approach is the only solution.

The Bangalore police have installed a helpline where volunteers counsel those in distress.

"Preventive programmes should include measures to fight social isolation, depression, alcohol and drug abuse among the younger generation," Bangalore-based sociologist Professor Bala Krishnaswamy said.

He said another method is to involve children. "Children should be taught skills to deal with social pressures and violence. Early intervention helps," Krishnaswamy said.

Experts like Professor Krishnaswamy argue that preventive programmes among children are necessary because research has shown that the suicide streak can be hereditary.

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