10 lakh people commit suicide every year worldwide: DHO

Mysuru: “About 10 lakh people commit suicide every year in the world out of which 17% is in India,”  said District Health Officer (DHO) Dr. B. Basavaraj.

He was speaking after flagging off the Suicide Prevention awareness rally organised jointly by the District Administration, Zilla Panchayat, District Health and Family Welfare Department, Mental Health Programme Division, District Industrial Training Centre and Magic Bus Foundation at NPC Hospital premises in Nazarbad here this morning.

Stating that it was shocking to note that students were attempting suicide more, the DHO said that if suicides were not prevented at the earliest, one person would commit suicide every 20 seconds by 2020, which may increase.

Giving the statistics on the number of suicides in the district between 2016 and Aug. 2017, Dr. Basavaraj said that 283 people had committed suicide in rural places while 114 people committed suicide in urban places, majority of them by hanging and consuming poison.

He said that awareness programmes were being conducted at schools, colleges and industries in the district and even counselling is being done when needed.

Later, the awareness rally consisting of volunteers of Magic Bus Foundation, students and teachers of District Industrial Training Centre and officials, numbering about 200, carrying placards with messages on suicide prevention, passed through SP Harikrishna Circle, Nazarbad Police Station Circle, Hardinge Circle, Government Guest House Road, Theobald Road and culminated at the starting point.

District Surgeon Dr. Pashupathi, Psychiatrist Dr. A.R. Narendra, District Mental Health Programme Division Officer Dr. M.S. Manjuprasad and others were present during the programme.