Lok Sabha Question No. 1357 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-30
Subject: Cases of Suicide
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Subbarayan K, Com. Selvaraj V

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1357

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 30 TH  JULY, 2024/ SHRAVAN 8, 1946 (SAKA)

CASES OF SUICIDE

1357

SHRI SUBBARAYAN K: COM. SELVARAJ V:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the number of cases of suicides has increased recently;

(b) if so, the details of the persons who committed suicide during the years 2023 and 2024, category-wise, i.e. farmers, students and others; and

(c) the reaction of the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a)&(b): National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) compiles statistical data on suicides as reported to it by the States/UTs and publishes the same in its publication 'Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India (ADSI)'. The published reports are only available till the year 2022.

(c):  To  address  the  burden  of  mental  disorders,  the  Government  of India is implementing the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) in   the   country. The    District   Mental   Health   Programme   (DMHP)

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 1357 FOR 30.07.2024

component  of the NMHP  has been sanctioned  for  implementation  in 767 districts for which support is provided to States/UTs through the National Health Mission.  Facilities made available under DMHP at the Community  Health Centre(CHC) and Primary Health Centre(PHC) levels, inter-alia, include outpatient services, assessment, counselling/ psycho-social  interventions,  continuing  care  and  support  to  persons with  severe  mental  disorders,  drugs,  outreach  services,  ambulance services etc. In addition to above services, there is a provision of 10 bedded in-patient facility at the district level.

In  addition  to  the  above,  the  Government  is  also  taking  steps  to strengthen  mental  healthcare  services  at  primary  healthcare  level. The  Government  has  upgraded  more  than  1.73  lakh  SHCs,  PHCs, UPHCs  and  UHWCs  to  Ayushman  Arogya  Mandirs.  Mental  health services have been added in the package of services under Comprehensive  Primary  Health  Care  provided  at  these  Ayushman Arogya  Mandirs.  Operational  guidelines  on  Mental,  Neurological,  and Substance  Use  Disorders  (MNS)  at  Ayushman  Arogya  Mandirs  have been released under the ambit of Ayushman Bharat.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW) has also formulated country's  first  National  Suicide  Prevention  Strategy.  The  Strategy  is available on its website (www.mohfw.gov.in).

Besides  the  above,  MoH&FW  has  launched  a  'National  Tele  Mental Health Programme' on 10th October, 2022, to further improve access to quality mental health counselling and care services in the country. As on 23.07.2024, 36 States/ UTs have set up 53 Tele MANAS Cells and have started tele mental health services.  More than 11,76,000 calls have  been  handled  on  the  helpline  number.  Further,  Department  of Higher Education has also been requested for wide publicity of NTMHP / Tele MANAS in the educational institutes under their department and share the helpline number among the students to access the helpline during stressful and challenging times. All States/UTs have also been requested for wide circulation and publicity of NTMHP / Tele MANAS in the  respective  States/UTs  especially  among  students  in  educational institutions.  All  Institutes  of  National  Importance,  AIIMS  and  Central Government Medical Colleges have also been requested  to  publicize Tele  MANAS  among  students  to  access  the  helpline  at  any  time  for free and confidential support.

******