Suicide is the leading cause of death in the 15-39 years age group in India, according to a joint study of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and other institutes in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The World Health Organisation states that one person dies due to suicide every 40 seconds. For every suicide there are many more people who attempt suicide every year, says a WHO report.
Suicides are preventable. The WHO suggests a number of measures to prevent suicides including reducing access to the means of suicide, early identification and treatment of people with mental issues, and follow-up care for people who attempted suicide, among others.
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Suicide prevention helplines and counselling help a great deal in preventing suicides. State governments such as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha use medical helpline
Those in distress or having suicidal tendencies could seek help and counselling by calling any of the following numbers:
| Telangana | Roshni - 040-6620 2000 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 1Life - 78930-78930; 100 GGH-Kakinada - 98499-03870. |
| Karnataka | Arogya Sahayavani - 104 |
| Tamil Nadu | Sneha - 044- 24640050 State’s health helpline - 104 |
| Kerala | DISHA - 1056, 0471-2552056 State’s health helpline 104 Maithri - 0484-2540530 Thanal Suicide Prevention Centre - 0495-2760000 |
| Delhi | Sanjivini, Society for Mental Health - 011-4076 9002, Monday-Saturday, 10 am -7.30 pm |
| Mumbai | BMC Mental Health Helpline: 022-24131212 (24x7) Vandrevala Foundation: 18602662345/18002333330 (24x7) I Call - 022-25521111 (Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.) ASRA - 022 2754 6669 (24x7) The Samaritans Mumbai: 8422984528/842984529/8422984530 ( 5 p.m. -8 p.m., all days) |
| Bengaluru | Sahai - 080-25497777, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
| Kochi | Maitri — 0484-2540530, Chaithram — 0484-2361160 |
| Kolkata | Lifeline Foundation - 033-24637401/32 |