SUICIDE PREVENTION POLICY
Why in news : Union health ministry launched INDIA’s 1st suicide prevention policy.
Need of the policy :
- NCRB (national crime records bureau) report 2021, stated that 1.64 lakh people died by suicide in 2021.
- Suicide rate has increased from 10.6 in 2015 to 12 per 1 lakh population in 2021.
- Top category under suicide rate are adults and youth falling the age group of 15-29 years.
Reasons for suicide :
- According to NCRB report 2021, the main reasons are family issues -33.2%, unemployment/career problems – 7.7%, health concerns -18.6%.
Aim and significance of the policy :
- The main objective of the policy is to achieve reduction in suicide mortality by 10% by 2030.
- The strategy is in line with the WHO’s SOUTH EAST ASIA REGION STRATEGY for suicide prevention.
- UN SDG no 3- states to promote mental health and wellbeing among all. One of the indicators for this is suicide rate.
- INDIA became a signatory for 2030 agenda for sustainable development in 2015. So it is necessary to promote mental well being among its population.
Issues related to suicide :
- Section 309 of IPC : Under this section attempting suicide is a criminal offence.
- Lack of empathy among public officials including healthcare workers, doctors, police and judiciary.
- Treating suicide as a medico- legal issue rather than socio structural problem.
- Higher vulnerability among marginalized communities.
- Wrong way of curriculum and grades based stress on students.
Steps taken to tackle the issue :
- MENTAL HEALTH CARE ACT 2017, has decriminalized the suicide. It treats suicide as mental problem rather than criminal one.
- KIRAN INITIATIVE : Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has launched the toll free mental health rehabilitation helpline KIRAN to provide relief and support to persons with mental illness.
- MANODARPAN INITIATIVE : it’s an initiative by Ministry of Education aims to provide psychological support for mental health and well being of students during COVID outbreak and beyond.
Way forward :
- Community based interventions through HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTERS integrated within AYUSHMAN BHARAT scheme.
- Empathetic conversation on suicide.
- Removing section 309 of IPC to treat suicide as mental problem.
MARIWALA HEALTH INITIATIVE’S report SUICIDE PREVENTION-CHANGING THE NARRATIVE mentions that suicide prevention needs both psychological support and enabling access to social benefits like employment, health services etc.
SYLLABUS : GS-2 SOCIAL JUSTICE , GS-1 INDIAN SOCIETY.
