Study into suicides

DESARAJU SURYA
Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh government has commissioned a study on cause and effect of suicides in Ranga Reddy district.
A team of sociologists and psychologists of SwC Consulting will undertake the study and submit a report to the Planning Department in three months. Ranga Reddy has been chosen for the study as urbanisation is fastest in the district and it also has the right kind of urban, semi-urban and rural mix that could provide the right analyses for the growing number of suicides.
It is not just the farmers in rural areas who have been taking their own lives but many urbanites, particularly those in the so-called IT district, and students who are resorting to suicide of late.
One of the major causes for suicides is said to be a lack of social support system for those facing crises. Stress-related suicides are said to be on the increase in the recent past.
"There is a certain socio-psychological disconnect which is driving many to suicide as the social coping mechanism has failed," according to special chief secretary (planning) A K Goel. The psychological disconnect was being attributed to increased sociological stress and this was leading to suicides by urbanites. "The intensity of suicides is no less in urban areas as compared to rural. Earlier we used to talk about suicides by farmers, because of economic distress, but now even those well-placed in urban areas are increasingly resorting to such extreme acts," Goel observed.
Sociologist V Radha Krishna, who is piloting the study, pointed out that rapid urbanisation was one of the main reasons for the growing number of suicides. "There are many such factors contributing to suicides. As part of our study we would like to focus on the specific reasons and suggest possible preventive measures with special focus on social capital development," Radha Krishna said.
The Planning Department had previously studied the reasons that drove farmers in various parts of the state to suicide. Based on the study the government came out with a relief package to help the distressed families. "The latest study will help the government take appropriate enabling action to prevent incidence of suicides," special chief secretary Goel added.