Kathmandu, September 10 Suicide rate in the country has gone up over the last three years, with the majority of deaths linked to depression and other mental health problems, according to a report published by Nepal Police last month. The report says a total of 5,124 people committed suicide in the fiscal year 2016/17, whereas 4,332 killed themselves in the fiscal 2014/15. The number was 4,673 in the fiscal 2015/16. Most of them have taken their lives by hanging themselves, while others have committed suicide by consuming poison, jumping from heights and drowning. Despite the alarming rate, mental health issues are not found to be taken seriously and not talked openly in our society. The government, too, has so far been unable to address mental health issues. The World Suicide Prevention Day is being celebrated tomorrow with the slogan “Take a minute, change a life”. In 2009, the Nepal Mortality and Morbidity Study carried out under Family Health Division of the Department of Health Services revealed that suicide was the leading cause of deaths among women between 15 and 49 years of age. The report identified health problems, marital failures and family issues as key factors for growing suicide cases in the country, with 21 per cent of suicides among women of the reproductive age consisting of girls aged 18 or less. Another leading cause of suicide among women is found to be post-partum depression. Hormonal changes after child delivery, increased responsibilities and lack of family support have been contributing to suicide among women, according to Dr Saroj Prasad Ohja, head of Department of Psychiatry of the Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University Physical abuse, sexual violence, controlling spouses, pressure to bear son, gender discrimination and violence against women are some of the factors contributing to suicide among women, according to the doctor. Besides, substance abuse, growing frustration due to political instability, unemployment, failure in exams, financial problems, extramarital affairs and complex modern lifestyle are also pushing youths to suicide, opined informed Dr Ritesh Thapa, director and consultant neuropsychiatrist at Rhythm Neuropsychiatry Hospital and Research Centre, Ekantakuna. “Mental health issues have been largely ignored by the government. It has been spending money in controlling communicable and non- communicable diseases but mental health has failed to get due attention in primary healthcare,” informed Bhogendra Raj Dotel, director of Primary Health Care Revitalisation Division. However, the government has assigned the division to work in the mental health sector since the last two years. READ ALSO:

• ‘Talk openly about mental health problems’