More than 1.18 lakh people committed suicide in 2006

New Delhi, Apr 25 (UNI) More than 1.18 lakh people committed suicide during 2006 as against about 1.13 lakh in 2005, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

In a written reply, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Panabaka Lakshmi said a total of 7,604 suicides in 2005 and 8,045 in 2006 were reported in the country due to insanity or mental illness.

''These account for 6.7 per cent amd 6.8 per cent of the total suicides in the respective years,'' she added.

The Minister said according to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) as many as 2,555 and 2,464 victims during 2005 and 2006 respectively were in the age group of 0 to 14 years.

''A total of 40,234 and 42,216 victims during the same period were in the age group of 15 to 29 years... and as many as 40,998 and 42,410 women committed suicide in 2005 and 2006 respectively,'' she added.

She said it was envisaged to restrategise the National Mental Health Programme during the 11th five year plan period to include suicide prevention and stress management.

''Health workers would be trained to identify signs of stress and depressing in students. District Mental Health Programme would be extended all over the country in a phased manner,'' she added.

Ms Lakshmi said several factors were responsible for suicides including physiological, social, economic and medical reasons.

''The causes are most of the time interlinked, cumulative and progressive,'' she added.

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