Over 24,000 children died by suicide from 2017 to 2019: NCRB data

Over 24000 children in the age bracket of 1418 years committed suicide from 201719 with failure in examination being the reason in over 4000 such cases according to government dataThe consolidated data of the National Crime Records Bureau NCRB on childrens suicide was recently presented in Parliament According to the data as many as 24568 children including 13325 girls aged 1418 years died by suicide between 201719 In 2017 as many as 8029 children in the age group of 1418 years died by suicide The number rose to 8162 in 2018 and then further increased to 8377 in 2019 it saidThe highest number of deaths by suicide among children in this age bracket was reported from Madhya Pradesh at 3115 followed by West Bengal at 2802 Maharashtra at 2527 and Tamil Nadu at 2035 Failure in the examination was given as the reason behind the suicide of 4046 children while the marriagerelated issue was the reason behind the suicide of 639 children including 411 girls according to the dataAbout 3315 children died by suicide for reasons related to love affair while the illness was given as the reason behind the suicide of 2567 children Physical abuse was given as the reason for 81 childrens death Death of a dear person drug abuse or alcohol addiction illegitimate pregnancy fall in social reputation unemployment poverty and ideological causes or heroworshipping were other reasons given for the death of these children by suicideRaising alarm over the probability of worsening of the situation due to the Covid19 pandemic child rights activists stressed on inclusion of life skill training in school curriculum and making mental health part of mainstream healthcare and wellness agenda Commenting on how childrens psychosocial wellbeing is compromised especially during times of stress Puja Marwaha CEO CRYChild Rights and You said the majority of children and adolescents who attempt suicide have a significant mental health issuechallenge usually depressionAmong younger children suicide attempts are often impulsive They may be associated with feelings of sadness confusion anger stress or problems with attention and hyperactivity Among teenagers suicide attempts may be associated with feelings of stress selfdoubt pressure to succeed financial uncertainty disappointment depression and loss For some teens suicide may appear to be a solution to their problems she said She further said that issues related to mental health and psychosocial wellbeing of children and adolescents have increasingly become a crucial health and development priorityWe believe that all children and adolescents have a right to quality mental healthcare and psychosocial support mechanisms and ensuring their mental wellbeing can go a long way in helping them grow to their full potential and become productive members of the society Marwaha told PTI We also urge the government civil society communities and families to come forward and join hands in contributing a robust mechanism towards prevention therapy treatment rehabilitation services and inclusion of life skill training in school curriculum to help children and young adults deal with daily life stress and ensure that mental health becomes part of mainstream healthcare and wellness agenda especially in such testing times she addedAlso Read 645 children orphaned due to Covid19 pandemic in one yearAkhila Sivadas executive director Centre for Advocacy and Research said the adolescent and life skill education programme that took shape in early 2000 has been through a chequered past with its fortune fluctuating from great support in some phases to strong censure in others There was never clarity consensus and confidence on how young people should be shaped steered and enabled to deal with the numerous life challenges and predicaments they are likely to face she saidIt is not surprising that in the age of the internet without the necessary information selfefficacy support from a strong professional and personal ecosystem they are struggling to both understand and cope with and manage the multiple pressures and expectations The latter has grown by leaps and bounds and not enough effort has been made to help them see through it with timely professional services and support and mitigate its worst fallouts she addedThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever