Suicide in India: A Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/iijfmt.2025.23.2.4Keywords:
Suicide, India, Epidemiology, Forensic MedicineAbstract
Introduction:Suicide is a major public health issue in India and the third leading cause of death among people aged 15–29 years. According to NCRB 2022, India reported 170,924 suicide deaths, showing a 4.2% increase from the previous year and a 27% rise since 2018, with a suicide rate of 12.4 per 100,000 population. Vulnerable groups include young adults, women, students, daily wage earners, and farmers. This review analyzes suicide trends in India from 2018 to 2022, highlighting demographics, causes, and policy implications.Methods:The review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Literature was searched in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, NCRB reports, WHO publications, and government documents. Search terms included “Suicide India,” “Mental Healthcare Act 2017,” “NCRB suicide statistics,” and “National Suicide Prevention Strategy.” Inclusion criteria were NCRB reports and peer-reviewed English-language studies from 2018 to 2022. Data on epidemiology, risk factors, methods, and policies were extracted and synthesized.Results:Suicide mortality rose from 10.2 to 12.4 per 100,000 between 2018 and 2022. Men accounted for nearly three-fourths of deaths. About 67% of suicides occurred among individuals aged 18–45. Major causes included family conflict (31.7%), chronic illness (18.4%), economic distress, and substance abuse. Hanging (58.2%) and pesticide ingestion were the leading methods. Student suicides (~13,000 annually) and farmer suicides (11,290 in 2022) remain significant challenges. Geographic disparities showed higher burdens in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, and Chhattisgarh. Legislative responses included the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, and the National Suicide Prevention Strategy, 2022, aligned with the WHO “LIVE LIFE” framework. Conclusion:Suicide in India reflects a complex interplay of social, economic, and psychological factors. Preventive efforts must focus on strengthening mental health services, restricting access to means, improving surveillance, and reducing stigma. Forensic medicine contributes critical evidence for surveillance and policy. A multisectoral, evidence-based approach is essential to reverse the rising trend.
Downloads
References
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). (2023). Accidental deaths & suicides in India—2022. New Delhi: NCRB. Available from: https://data.opencity.in/dataset/accidental-deaths-and-suicides-in-india-2022
Times of India. (2023, December 5). 468 people took their lives every day in 2022: NCRB data. Available from: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/468-people-took-their-lives-every-day-in-2022-ncrb-data/articleshow/105738471.cms
World Health Organization. (2021). LIVE LIFE: An implementation guide for suicide prevention. Geneva: WHO. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240026629
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). (2022). Accidental deaths & suicides in India—2019 & 2022 tables. New Delhi: NCRB. Available from: https://data.gov.in/catalog/accidental-deaths-suicides-india-adsi-2019
Government of India. (2017). Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 (Section 115). Available from: https://indiankanoon.org/doc/53099207/
Kashmir Media Service. (2025, January 31). Suicide cases on the rise in Indian Army. Available from: https://kmsnews.org/kms/2025/01/31/suicide-cases-in-indian-army-on-the-rise.htmlSwain, P. K., Tripathy, M. R., Priyadarshini, S., & Acharya, S. K. (2021). Forecasting suicide rates in India: An empirical exposition. PLOS ONE, 16(7), e0255342. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0255342
Dandona, R., Kumar, G. A., Dhaliwal, R. S., et al. (2018). Gender and state variations in suicide deaths in India: The Global Burden of Disease Study 1990–2016. The Lancet Public Health, 3(10), e478–e489. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(18)30138-5
Arya, V., Page, A., Dandona, R., Vijayakumar, L., Mayer, P., & Armstrong, G. (2019). The geographic heterogeneity of suicide rates in India by religion, caste, tribe, and OBC. Crisis, 40(5), 370–374. https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000551
Arya, V., Page, A., Vijayakumar, L., Onie, S., Tapp, C., John, A., et al. (2023). Changing profile of suicide methods in India: 2014–2021. Journal of Affective Disorders, 340, 420–426. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2023.07.008
Arya, V., Page, A., Gunnell, D., & Armstrong, G. (2021). Changes in suicide methods after a national pesticide ban in India (2011–2014). Journal of Affective Disorders, 278, 592–600. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.09.062
Arya, V., Page, A., Armstrong, G., Kumar, A. G., & Dandona, R. (2021). Under-reporting of suicide deaths in India: Comparison of NCRB and GBD estimates. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 75(6), 550–555. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech-2020-214482
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. (2022). National suicide prevention strategy. New Delhi: MoHFW. Available from: https://www.mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/Final%20National%20Suicide%20Prevention%20Strategy%202022.pdf
World Health Organization. (2025). Suicide fact sheet (2025 update). Geneva: WHO. Available from: https://www.who.int/newsroom/fact-sheets/detail/suicide
