BANGALORE: With six suicides reported within a 24-hour period last weekend, Bangalore continues to retain its status as the "suicide capital" of the country. Even bigger Mumbai comes only second, closely followed by Chennai.

More women than men commit suicide in Bangalore (57 per cent) and the largest numbers of them (about 57 per cent) are adolescents and young adults, according to a study "Epidemiology of suicides in Bangalore," compiled by G. Gururaj and Mohan K. Isaac of the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences.

The "psychological autopsy" of suicides during a six-month period also showed most victims were skilled workers (47 per cent) and housewives (23 per cent).

More than half of those committing suicides have specific high-risk behaviour. Close to 15 per cent were alcoholic or had alcoholic parents; 2.7 per cent are regular gamblers and 1.3 per cent indulge in high-risk sexual behaviour.

While close to 50 per cent of the victims have normal behaviour, others show personality profiles such as short temper, being extremely sensitive, rude and violent, lonely nature and irresponsible and careless attitude. A history of depression was noticed by families or friends of 43 per cent of victims.

Consuming poison (47 per cent) is still the most popular mode of death, followed by hanging oneself (33 per cent) and burning (20 per cent). More women than men burn themselves.

Financial loss or debt is the main reason for suicides (53.3 per cent) and unresolved family conflicts (15 per cent). Affairs of a spouse or ill-health of oneself or a spouse are other important reasons.

Failure in exams drives more teenagers to suicide followed by break-up of a relationship with the opposite sex.

The NIMHANS study points out a number of factors are inter-linked, leading to the suicidal act. None of the victims receive medical or psychiatric help during this "conflict period" of a few weeks before the actual act. In some cases, a physical or verbal fight, insult by family or peer groups and unbearable pain due to an illness, occurring a week or a few hours before the act, may have trigged the suicide. For every suicide carried out, there may be nine attempted suicides, which were prevented just in time or did not succeed.

Strengthening counselling services in high schools and colleges, better emergency services in hospitals along with suicide prevention centres and training health care professionals identify suicide-prone and high-risk individuals, have been recommended among preventive strategies.

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