Kathmandu, September 9

As many as 4,350 suicide cases were recorded in the fiscal year 2014-15, according to a data maintained by the Nepal Police.

More than 11 persons committed suicide per day on an average after the devastating April 25 earthquake. The temblor, its devastation and subsequent aftershocks added another dimension to the suicidal risk among survivors of the disaster, said the police.

Ever since the earthquake, numerous cases of suicide and attempted-suicide have been reported. The tragedy and its effects had a negative psychological impact on the survivors.

Rishi Raj Ojha, president of Nepal Health Society, opined that suicide was traumatic to the victims’ families, friends as well as their community.

“The families of suicide victims are usually uncomfortable sharing their painful experiences due to social stigma. It is very important to reach out to those who have lost someone to suicide,” said Ojha, adding that acts of affection to someone vulnerable to suicide could be a game changer. Mental health specialists and primary care providers should provide clinical care for the bereaved ones.

Youths, adolescence, divorced and single men or women, police and military personnel, professional groups, members of a broken family, house wives, victim of sexual abuse and drug abusers are high risk groups prone to suicide.

According to World Health Organisation’s recently released report ‘Prevent Suicide’, over 800,000 people commit suicide every year in the world.

WHO, the Ministry of Health and Population along with NHC are set to celebrate World Suicide Prevention Day in collaboration with International Association for Suicide Prevention on September 10.

“We will join with others who are working towards the common goal of preventing suicide in the country as well as around the world,” Ojha said.

He informed that each year, one person committed suicide in every 40 seconds. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among the people in the 15-29 years age group while 77 per cent of global suicide deaths occur in low-middle income countries.