NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Theme : Social Justice
Paper : GS - 2
- Sensational and misdirected cause of suicide takes away from appropriate solution and comprehensive study of the real cause.The most recent data shows that suicide claimed 1,64,033 lives during 2021.
- Suicide is the leading cause of death in the 15-39 years age group in India.
- India has the highest suicide rate in the Southeast Asian region, according to the World Health Organization.
- As per National Crime Records Bureau, the rate of suicide was 9.9 in 2017, it increased to 10.2 in 2018.
TABLE OF CONTENT
- Context
- Facts about Suicide
- Section 309 IPC
- Blaming the Technology
- Section 309 IPC
- Case of Tamil Nadu
- Road Ahead
Context : Sensational and misdirected cause of suicide takes away from appropriate solution and comprehensive study of the real cause.The most recent data shows that suicide claimed 1,64,033 lives during 2021.
Facts about Suicide :
- Suicide is the leading cause of death in the 15-39 years age group in India.
- India has the highest suicide rate in the Southeast Asian region, according to the World Health Organization.
- As per National Crime Records Bureau, the rate of suicide was 9.9 in 2017, it increased to 10.2 in 2018.
Section 309 IPC :
- Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code provides for the penal provision for attempting suicide.
- A Bill to repeal Section 309 was first introduced in the Rajya Sabha in 1972 but it failed to pass in the Lok Sabha because the House was dissolved.
Blaming the Technology :
- Two decades into the 21st century, deaths by suicide remain a major source of social distress and public policy concern in India. One of the causes of suicide, which has been prevalent in contemporary discussions, is the expanding role of digital technologies.
- Aggravation of depression and other mental health issues leading to suicide is being repeatedly attributed to technology. Factors such as cyberbullying, loss of self-esteem due to social media, extreme binge-watching of online content or heavy reliance on virtual followers/communities for validation are all said to be contributing to the issue.
- However, it will serve us well to realize that technology is neither at the core of the problem nor the perfect solution for it. Suicide is a reality which society must respond to in the most sensitive and holistic manner possible. It is not the case that technology has no role to play in adverse mental health conditions or related cases of suicide; the issue is the sensational and misdirected analysis of the causes of suicides. This takes the focus away from a comprehensive understanding of the issue and a more appropriate solution to it.
- According to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health in the U.S., participants who experienced cyberbullying were more than four times as likely to report thoughts of suicide and attempts as those who did not. The medium of bullying is not the sole culprit; it is the act of bullying itself that needs to be addressed. Awareness campaigns, sensitisation programmes, community support and counseling services are usually considered good solutions against bullying — cyber or otherwise.
Case of Tamil Nadu :
- News reports regarding a spate of suicides, specifically in Tamil Nadu, also illustrate this point. Preliminary news reports associated several suicide incidents with gaming addiction, particularly with online rummy games. These reports elicited a heavy policy response from the Tamil Nadu government in the form of an ordinance, which banned most online games played for money, including rummy and poker.
- Analysis of the data from the NCRB on deaths by suicide in Tamil Nadu makes it evident that the policy response is not adequate to address the magnitude of the crisis in the State. Tamil Nadu has consistently had among the highest shares of reported deaths by suicide in the country, reporting over 11% of total cases for much of the previous decade.
- According to the NCRB, family problems, illness, substance abuse, and marriage/love-related issues alone contribute to more than two-thirds of the deaths by suicide in India. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the Tamil Nadu government to address these root causes and evolve a holistic policy response to minimize future cases.
Road Ahead :
- Design effective and Proportionate policy prescription because technology is a complex matrix of this issue but not the real root cause.
- The Central government, on its part, is already embracing the potential role of technology in improving mental health outcomes for citizens. In February, it announced the National Tele-Mental Health Programme to provide access to free, round-the-clock mental health interventions in remote and underserved areas.
FAQs :
1.What are the Issues that lead to majority of Suicides in India?
Answer : According to the NCRB, family problems, illness, substance abuse, and marriage/love-related issues alone contribute to more than two-thirds of the deaths by suicide in India.
2. What role is Played by the Central Government?
Answer :The Central government, on its part, is already embracing the potential role of technology in improving mental health outcomes for citizens. In February, it announced the National Tele-Mental Health Programme to provide access to free, round-the-clock mental health interventions in remote and underserved areas.