KOHIMA: Nagaland has witnessed a worrisome 14% year-on-year increase in suicide cases, according to the latest National Crimes Records Bureau (NCRB) report.
The “Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India 2022” report reveals that Nagaland saw a rise from 43 suicide cases in 2021 to 49 in 2022.
While it remains the state with the second lowest number of suicide cases, after Manipur, this increase has sparked concerns.
Delving into the data, the report highlights that a significant number of cases—21 out of 49—are classified as “Causes Not Known”.
However, a closer inspection suggests a potential correlation with economic hardship.
Disturbingly, 83.67% of the cases fell within an income group of less than 5 lakh annually.
Breaking down the profession-wise categorisation, 63.27% of all suicide cases in the state were attributed to unemployment, self-employment, and daily wage earners.
This underlines a potential link between economic instability and suicidal ideation.
Relationship issues emerged as another significant factor, contributing to 32.65% of the total cases.
Family problems, marriage-related issues, and love affairs were cited as key factors, highlighting the intricate web of personal challenges faced by individuals.
Educational status played a role, with the majority of victims having education up to the middle level (40.48%).
The national context provides a broader picture, where family problems, illness, and substance abuse lead the causes of suicides.
In a national perspective, males are more prone to suicide, a trend mirrored in Nagaland, where 39 male victims and 10 female victims were reported in 2022.
Nagaland finds itself among nine states/UTs that reported a higher percentage increase in suicides in 2022 over 2021, signalling a concerning trend that requires urgent attention.
Despite these alarming figures, Nagaland boasts the third-lowest suicide rate in India, with 2.2 suicides per one lakh population. The mid-year projected population of 22.2 lakh for Nagaland is a testament to this rate.
The overall suicide scenario in India witnessed a 4.2% increase during 2022, with Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and West Bengal accounting for nearly half of the total reported suicides. Sikkim, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Puducherry reported the highest suicide rates per lakh population.
