Chhattisgarh is in crisis, with 40,000 suicide cases reported in the last five years. According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data cited by The New Indian Express, 39,814 people died by suicide in Chhattisgarh from 2020 to 2024.
The figures have placed Chhattisgarh fourth nationally in recorded suicide cases. The state’s suicide rate is also a serious concern. At 26 suicides per 100,000 people, it is more than twice the national average (12.3).
The figures were highlighted on World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10. Mental health professionals say suicide must be treated as a preventable public health crisis, not as a crime or a sign of personal weakness.
Suicide rates remain high in Chhattisgarh.
The state’s annual numbers show how serious the situation has become. Chhattisgarh recorded 7,710 suicides in 2020 and 7,828 in 2021. The number went up to 8,446 in 2022, the highest in five years.
The number dropped slightly to 7,868 in 2023 but rose again to 7,962 in 2024. These numbers add up to 39,814 deaths in the five years.
Young adults seem to be particularly vulnerable. People aged 18 to 30 years, who constitute 34.6% of the state’s recorded suicide cases, were the largest group affected.
Psychiatrists and mental health professionals identify numerous pressures that can create emotional distress. They include job and academic pressure, relationship problems, loneliness, financial problems, substance abuse, and weakening social support.
Social media is only adding to these pressures. Constant comparison with well-drawn images of other people’s lives can cause young people to feel behind or to fail to live up to expectations.
Loneliness and lack of support among key concerns
Young people’s concerns are also evident on the Tele-MANAS helpline at AIIMS Raipur. About four out of every ten calls made through the helpline (14416) were from people aged 18-28, officials said. Loneliness and feeling like nobody is listening were among the main concerns reported by young callers.
Mental health professionals say these warning signs need to be recognized. Someone who is suicidal might be in extreme emotional distress, and they need immediate help, not condemnation or judgment.
The reasons for suicide are complex and can vary greatly from person to person. Suicide is also related to family problems, isolation, abuse, violence, mental disorders, addiction, financial loss, and chronic health problems, the government says.
Experts stress the importance of building stronger support systems at home, in educational institutions and at workplaces. Even listening without immediately judging or dismissing someone’s problems can make an important difference.
People who are feeling suicidal or worried about someone close to them should seek professional help rather than try to deal with it themselves. The Tele-MANAS mental health helpline in India is at 14416.
The Chhattisgarh numbers show that suicide prevention cannot be a personal obligation. Greater mental health services, better community support, and better awareness can all prevent deaths.
People with suicidal thoughts need empathy and treatment right now, mental health professionals stress. Awareness of warning signs and the ability to find help may be very important for preventing future tragedies.
