India Reports Over 30% Drop in Suicide Rates from 1990 to 2021: The Lancet
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Synopsis
A recent study published in The Lancet reveals India has achieved over a 30% reduction in suicide death rates from 1990 to 2021, indicating significant health advancements. The decline is more prominent among women, with family issues cited as a major factor.
Key Takeaways
- Over 30% decline in suicide rate from 1990 to 2021.
- Suicide rates dropped more among females than males.
- Family problems majorly impacted educated women.
- Globally, approximately 740,000 suicides occur yearly.
- Need for improved mental health support systems.
New Delhi, Feb 20 (NationPress) A significant milestone has been achieved as India witnesses a greater than 30 percent decline in suicide mortality rates from 1990 through 2021, according to a study released in The Lancet Public Health on Thursday, highlighting notable advancements in public health strategies.
The research, which utilized data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021, revealed that the suicide death rate in India was 18.9 per lakh population in 1990, which dropped to 13.1 per lakh population in 2019 and further to 13 per lakh population by 2021.
Over the span of three decades, the suicide death rate in India has decreased by 31.5 percent.
Notably, the decline in suicide rates has been more pronounced among females compared to males. In 1990, the suicide death rate for females was 16.8 per lakh population, which fell to 10.3 per lakh population in 2021.
Conversely, the suicide death rate for males decreased from 20.9 per lakh population in 1990 to 15.7 per lakh population in 2021.
“In 2020, the highest suicide rates in India were found among educated women, with family issues being the primary cited factor,” noted researchers from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, US.
Globally, the study estimates that approximately 740,000 suicides occur each year, equating to one death every 43 seconds.
Additionally, over the past 30 years, the worldwide age-standardized suicide mortality rate has seen a nearly 40 percent decline, from about 15 deaths per lakh population to 9 deaths per lakh population, indicating effective intervention and prevention strategies.
For females, the decline surpassed 50 percent, whereas for males, it was nearly 34 percent. Overall, the suicide mortality rates were 12.8 per lakh population for males and 5.4 per lakh population for females.
“Despite the encouraging progress in reducing suicide rates, it remains evident that some countries and demographics are still significantly affected. It is essential to eliminate the stigma surrounding suicide and enhance access to mental health support, particularly for individuals grappling with mental health and substance use disorders,” stated senior author Dr. Mohsen Naghavi from IHME.
