Moa Jamir
Despite boasting one of the lowest suicide rates in India, Nagaland witnessed a worrisome 14% year-on-year increase in suicide cases in 2022, a recent all-India level report has highlighted. According to the ‘Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India 2022’ report by the National Crimes Records Bureau (NCRB), Nagaland experienced a rise in suicides from 43 cases in 2021 to 49 in 2022. Nagaland was among the nine states/Union Territories (UTs) reporting a higher percentage increase in suicides in 2022 compared to 2021.
Statistically, Nagaland maintains its position as the State with the second-lowest number cases, and fourth when UTs are included. In addition, with mid-year projected population of 22.2 lakh, Nagaland had exhibited the third-lowest suicide rate in India, standing at 2.2 suicide per one lakh population.
However, as the report noted, each suicide is a personal tragedy that prematurely takes the life of an individual and has a “continuing ripple effect, affecting the lives of families, friends and communities” and demands immediate attention and decisive action. Policymakers and other stakeholders, thus, need to delve deeper into the data to identify any potential correlations and assess whether targeted interventions are possible.
A pertinent correlation could be economic. While the majority of cases fall under the category of “Causes Not Known,” Economic hardship appears to be a significant driver on close scrutiny. For instance, a closer look indicates that 83.67% of suicides were in an income group of less than 5 lakh, with 29 cases having an annual income of less than Rs 1 lakh. The profession-wise categorisation further supports the link between economic instability and suicide, with 63.27% of cases involving unemployed individuals, self-employed persons, and daily wage earners. These findings underscore the pressing need for investigate whether economic hardship act as a trigger, and if warranted, finds ways for economic support and mental health initiatives targeting vulnerable populations.
Relationship issues also emerge as a prominent factor, with 32.65% of cases attributed to family problems, marriage-related issues, love affairs, and suspected/illicit relations. These relational challenges highlight the importance of fostering healthy relationships and providing adequate support systems within families and communities. Education levels also merit consideration with 40.48% of victims having attained only middle-level education (up to Class 8). This entails promoting comprehensive mental health awareness and support within educational institutions from intermediate level, coupled with targeting the ‘out-of-school’ cohort. The gender disparity in suicide cases, with males accounting for nearly 72% of victims, necessitates tailored interventions and support systems specifically geared towards men.
It would be also prudent to contextualise the official data and resulting low number. It is often the case that crimes and accidents do not fined way to official records due to lack of awareness, informal resolution mechanism, societal set-up, and simply being outside the realms of official state’s reporting mechanism. In such a scenario, any rise in cases, however low, is concerning.
It is imperative to examine the root causes of the suicides in Nagaland in more holistic manner. The classification of majority of the cases (21 out of 49) as “Unknown Causes” also points out to certain indifference on the part of concerned authority and not investigating the matter thoroughly.
Hence, a multidimensional approach that combines economic support, mental health initiatives, and community awareness is crucial for fostering resilience and empowering individuals to seek assistance when needed. Official mechanisms themselves need reorientation and sensitisation on the issue. Mental health must also be prioritised, with enhanced awareness campaign and evidence-based strategies must be implemented to prevent unwanted societal tragedy.
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