NCRB data shows Odisha among states with highest suicide rates

Bhubaneswar, Sept 10: According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2022 report, Odisha has experienced a higher suicide rate than the national average over the past decade. The report reveals that in 2022, India saw 1.71 lakh suicides, translating to a rate of 12.4 per 100,000 people. Odisha, along with Maharashtra, is among the states with the highest suicide rates, recording 13.3 per 100,000, exceeding the national average.

In comparison, Tamil Nadu had a suicide rate of 11.6 per 100,000, Madhya Pradesh 9, Karnataka 8, and West Bengal 7.4. The NCRB report indicates that Odisha accounted for 3.6% of all suicide cases in India, with 6,140 reported suicides in the state in 2022. Notably, women were more affected, with 3,990 female suicides compared to 2,150 male suicides.

The suicide rate in Odisha increased by 8.7% in 2022 compared to the previous year. Family disputes were identified as the leading cause, followed by marital issues, love failures, financial problems, unemployment, poor performance in exams, substance abuse, and mental health issues.

The report also highlights a troubling trend: the suicide rate among younger individuals is rising, with those aged 18 to 45 years representing 66% of the total suicides. In 2022, 10,205 suicides were committed by individuals under 18 years of age.