VIJAYAWADA: In the wake of Covid-19, Andhra Pradesh has seen a huge spike in suicides owing to illnesses in 2020, according to the Accidental Deaths and Suicides of India (ADSI) 2020 report released by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
As many as 2,238 persons ended their lives due to illness, accounting for 31% of the 7,043 suicides in Andhra Pradesh. ADSI data show that ‘family problems’ was the second major reason for suicides in the state, with a share of 26%.
Compared to 2019, there has been a 21% increase in suicides due to illness as the reason and a 39% increase from 2018. While Covid-19 related suicides have not been categorised in the latest NCRB report, 76% of 2,238 deaths is left under the ‘other prolonged illnesses’ category.
A total of 452 people ended their lives due to mental health issues, of which 26 had Aids and STDs, 17 due to cancer and 24 due to paralysis. Experts claim that the spike in suicides due to illness can be attributed to Covid-19 as several instances of suicides from government hospitals, quarantine centres and elderly persons were reported in 2020.
“Some Covid-19 patients, who attempted suicide, were referred to me for counselling in the last one-and-a half-years and point to two main fears – the fear of paying hospital bills and the stigma associated with the disease,” RV Shekhar, a city-based clinical psychologist told TOI. A profession-wise analysis of suicide victims in 2020 shows that a majority (2,501) were daily wage earners with an income of less than Rs 1 lakh per annum. Self-employed and farmers ranked second and third, respectively.
Student suicides saw a significant spike of 22% in the state. Of the 469 student suicides in AP, 100 students took the extreme step due to failure in an examination. Other reasons behind suicides in the state include bankruptcy, marriage-related issues, death of a dear person, love affairs, poverty and property disputes.
