Times of India
27 January 2010
By Vijay Chavan

It’s Official: Most suicide victims are 14 to 20 Years old. City’s teenagers are losing hope. According to a study by Pune police, 235 teens committed suicide in 2009.That is a 10 per cent increase since 2008
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) recently roped in actor Aamir Khan to launch a campaign called ‘Life is Beautiful’ to stem the rate of student suicides in the city. The programme will educate children and teachers to identify signs of depression among students. However, if you think this is a problem that is limited to our metro neighbour only, one look at the Pune police’s suicide figures will rid you of this notion.

Data with the Pune police shows that in 2009 the number of suicide cases in the city is 583. But a cause for concern is that most of those who ended their lives were in the age group of 14 to 20 years. That’s 235 cases to be precise. Even though the total number of suicide cases registered has decreased by 10 per cent, the number of those who are dying young is an extremely worrying factor.

Deadly Figures
Among the 583 people who committed suicide in 2009, 235 were in the age group of:

• 14-20 years
• 18 were above
• 50 years old
• 384 were male
• 199 were female

Last year, in a majority of cases, most people who committed suicide were from the age group of 25–35 years. Education experts and psychologists have expressed the need to control these rising numbers. While the police blame the rising suicide rate in the city on tense relations within the family, experts and psychologists say that burden of expectations and lack of communication are the major reasons behind the increasing number of suicide cases.

Data shows that in the year 2008, there was a total of 612 suicides recorded in the city. Out of these, 395 were male and 217 were female. According to the data, in the year 2009, Pune recorded 583 suicides. Of these 384 males and 199 females had committed suicide.

Data also shows that in 2009, 235 people from the age group of 14 to 20 committed suicide. Apart from that, 201 people from age group between 20–30 committed suicide. Others were from different age groups. In 2008, out of 612 cases, the number of suicide cases in the age group of 14 to 20 was 213 and those between 20 and 30 was 222.

Additional commissioner of police, crime, Anant Shinde, said, “First of all, suicide is a crime. There is a provision in the law where the court can award a punishment of up to 10 years imprisonment and fine or both to a person who attempts to commit suicide. However, a youth who takes his life may not be punished, but it affects the entire society at large. Nothing is more valuable than life. The teenagers are the future of the nation. This is the age at which they should contribute to their family, society or nation at large. Running away from the problem cannot be a solution. Proper communication within the family and a stress–free mind could be a solution to get of the suicide problem.”

Dr Ravindrasinha Pardeshi, principal, Fergusson College, said, “The pressure for excellence is forcing the youth to commit suicide. There is a need to give them enough freedom and space. Tension resulting from them and bad academic performance are destroying their will to survive. Inferiority complex is also killing them. Parents sometimes burden the youth with their personal aspirations. As a result of this, the suicide ratio is increasing in this particular age group.”

Prajakta Chitre, teacher, Symbiosis School, said, “Lack of communication between parents and children, is a major cause behind the increasing number of suicides in the teenage group. Over–exposure at a young age is another cause. Earlier this kind of a problem did not exist in this particular age group. It was a problem among the middle–aged. Teenagers are sensitive. This sensitivity can be used in a creative way. However, it can turn into depression too, due to communication gap with their parents. Parents should understand the capability of their child and groom them accordingly.”

Dr Ulhas Luktuke, psychiatrist, told Pune Mirror, “The stable nature of the city is changing drastically and a lot of frustration resulting from increasing pressure is a cause of suicide in many cases. In the age group of 14 to 30, the cases of suicides are more. This age group is divided in two parts. 14 to 20 years and 20 to 30 years. The earlier group are known as teenagers, who have strong emotions with less logic and almost nil experience. They get very frustrated and can easily slip into depression. If they remain in depression it can lead to suicide. Parents should hold open discussions with their children to help them understand life and their individual potential. Strains of negativity in any student should be immediately reported to parents and help from counsellors should be sought right away.”