Background of Suicide Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic in India

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Globally, suicide is a pertinent public health crisis that affects almost all nations cross-culturally. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in many countries, even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit worldwide. India, a nation developing rapidly, is also not free from the leashes of suicide deaths. COVID-19 augmented the rate of suicide due to multifaceted determinants. Adequate empirical evidence about data on suicide is also scarce. Materials and Methods This review synthesizes determinants, available demographic correlates, and reported rates of suicide published in the Indian context. The authors conducted a thorough literature search to find published English free full-text scientific articles related to suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Indian context. Databases relied on for literature were PubMed, Google scholar, and PLOS one databases using comprehensive search strategies to avail the maximum number of studies. Results Ten out of 76 studies available in the initial search were analyzed thoroughly for ruling out determinants, rates, and sociodemographic correlates of suicide. Fear of COVID-19 infection, financial crisis, mental breakdown, and job loss are cardinal reasons attributed for suicide, and male suicides are more prevalent in this arena. Interpretation and Conclusions Findings portray factors such as fear of COVID-19 diagnosis, apprehension to become infected, financial crisis, loss of job, and isolation are some of the significant determinants quoted out. The study points out the need for multifaceted policies in preventing this public health crisis.

Understanding Positive Psychology Through the Lens of Indian Knowledge System: Insights From Shrimad Bhagavad Gita

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“…In 2020 alone, India witnessed a historic increase of 21% in suicide cases compared to 2019. Out of 12,526 student suicides in 2020, nearly 53% or 6,598 were from six states-Maharashtra, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Jharkhand and Karnataka, while all other states and union territories together reported 5,928 deaths (Kumar, 2021). When we look at the world scenario, India is the most depressed country in the world, followed by china and USA.…”

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