Financial distress drives majority of suicides in AP: NCRB

Visakhapatnam: The economic status-wise distribution of suicide incidents in Andhra Pradesh in 2024 revealed that around 50 per cent (4,149) of the total suicide victims of 8,302 belong to Rs one lakh income group. Additionally, a further around 39% or 3,177 individuals fell into the Rs 1-5 lakh per year bracket. Thus, about 89% of the total people who died by suicide in 2024 earned less than Rs 5 lakh annually.The mental health experts said financial distress is one of the major reasons for the disputes in the family, social stress and often aggravate tensions within families, driving to suicides.Economic status-wise distribution of suicides in 2023 revealed that 4,357 persons belong to Rs one lakh income group, 3,254 belong to the income group of Rs one lakh and above and less than Rs five lakh and 925 people belong to Rs 5 lakh and above and less than Rs 10 lakh, 148 belong to income group of Rs 10 lakh and above.The NCRB’s report on suicides, indicated that the low income group people commit more suicides in many parts of the state. Financial hardship is a top risk factor for suicides. Being in debt or facing a financial distress, unemployment, and homelessness and few others were each associated with suicides, said mental health experts.A 40-year-old farmer, his wife and two children ended their lives at Diddekunta in Kadapa district over financial hardship in Dec 2024. The suicide indicated that gravity of the financial hardship.We have observed that most of the youngsters ended their lives in rural pockets in the state due to financial distress as low income is one of the reasons for the many problems, including some youngsters not getting married, said a senior police officer in Vizag region.Andhra Pradesh’s suicide rate continued to remain above the national average. The state recorded a suicide rate (number of suicides per one lakh population) of 15.5 in 2024 against the national average of 12.2. The state’s suicide rate clearly says that the state needs stronger mental health interventions and counselling systems, especially in semi-urban and rural areas, expressed psychiatrists. The absence of financial stability can trap them in abusive environments and lead to extreme steps, they added.