Aizawl, 10 Sept (Zoram News) : Mizoram has recorded 49 suicide cases in the first seven months of 2024, from January to July, as the state marked World Suicide Prevention Day on Tuesday. This year’s observance is themed "Changing the Narrative on Suicide."
State Deputy Inspector General (CID Crime) Lalhuliana Fanai disclosed that Mizoram has recorded 948 suicides over the past 11 years, from 2014 to July 2024. Men accounted for 794 cases (83.76%), while 154 cases (16.24%) were women. The age group most affected is between 20-39 years, with 584 cases, followed by the 40-59 age group, which recorded 201 suicides. In the 1-19 age group, 117 suicides were reported, while 41 cases involved those aged 60 and above.
The year 2022 saw the highest number of suicides in the past decade, with 125 cases, including 21 women. The years 2015 and 2014 followed with 113 and 108 cases, respectively.
Hanging emerged as the most common method of suicide, accounting for 95.25% (903) of the total cases. Other methods included firearms (16 cases), jumping from heights (7 cases), knives (3 cases), explosives (2 cases), and electrocution (1 case). An additional 16 cases involved fire, poison, or other methods.
Social workers have pointed out that relationship-related issues significantly contributed to male suicides, whereas fewer women cited this as a reason for taking their own lives.