Suicide in Uttar Pradesh : An Overview

Abstract

Suicide has become a matter of growing concern in current times. The suicide rate is on the rise worldwide, and India is no exception to it. Suicide being a preventable cause of death requires more attention, early intervention, and proper strategies to deal with it. This article tries to reflect upon the status of suicide in Uttar Pradesh(U.P.), the most populous state in India, by reviewing data across PubMed, Science Direct, and Cochrane Library and incorporating national records. U.P. contributes to 3.9% of the total suicides in India. According to the 2011 census, maximum suicides in U.P. were below the age of 45years, and more females committed suicide than males. Recent data reveals that familial problems were reported as the leading cause of suicide, while hanging was the most common method. This article tries to shed some light on the recent impact of the pandemic, COVID 19, on suicide and discusses specific preventive strategies to try and fight against the rising burden of suicide in the state.