Youth volunteers participated in large numbers at various events, including an awareness rally and a photo expo, that marked observance of World Suicide Prevention Day on Wednesday .
The government organised an awareness rally under the National Mental Health Programme with a message of creating hope through action.
This year, the World Health Organisation and the International Association of Suicide Prevention, had called for global events under the theme ‘Changing the Narrative on Suicide’. According to global estimates, at least 7,20,000 persons committed suicide every year.
The Health Department pointed out in a press note that suicide rates were also trending upwards in India, according to the National Crime Records Bureau. Of particular concern is Puducherry being in the third place with a 26.3% suicide rate.
Mental health experts have flagged substance use as one of the causative factors. There has been a sharp rise in the rate of student suicide, alongside the manner of ending life. Experts caution that each suicide death is preceded by several suicide attempts.
