NEW DELHI—India has a particularly big problem because more than 700,000 people kill themselves every year. The World Health Organization (WHO) says that the country’s suicide rates are higher than the global average. Young adults between the ages of 15 and 29 are the most at risk. Today is World Suicide Prevention Day 2025, and there is a renewed call for everyone to work together to solve the problem with kindness and caring.
The Mental Healthcare Act of 2017 marks a major change in India’s legal system. This is an important first step. The Act made it legal to attempt suicide, shifting the focus from punishment to helping people who are in trouble. But more needs to be done to deal with the social and underlying issues that lead to these terrible rates.
To learn more about the way forward, NDTV talked to Dr. Pallavi Sharma, a well-known MD in Psychiatry at Fortis Escorts New Delhi. Dr. Sharma said, “Doctors aren’t the only ones who need to work to stop suicide; we all need to change our culture to be more understanding, aware, and act quickly.” She underlined how important it is for society, families, institutions, and the media to work together to make mental health support more common.
Understanding the Many Reasons
Dr. Sharma said that the surge in suicides and mental health problems in India is due to many different things. Untreated mental illnesses like depression and drug abuse, especially alcohol consumption, are major causes, and stigma and lack of knowledge can make things worse.
In addition to clinical considerations, acute stressors such as financial difficulties, interpersonal problems, loneliness, chronic sickness, discrimination, and abuse significantly contribute. Dr. Sharma also said that a lot of suicides are spontaneous acts that happen when people are in a lot of trouble.
The danger is especially high for young people in India because of the stress of school, which is made worse by social media, and work. The situation is made worse by the fact that deadly tools like pesticides are easy to get. From a sociological standpoint, she cited Emile Durkheim’s theory, emphasizing that his classifications of “egoistic” (alienation), “altruistic” (self-sacrifice), and “anomic” (societal upheaval) suicides continue to hold significance in contemporary society.
Signs of Trouble Ahead and Taking Action
Dr. Sharma says that relatives and friends are frequently the first to see warning signs and can be a very important first line of defense. She says to check for “marked changes in behavior,” such withdrawing from social situations, mood swings, and being more irritable. Other warning signs are talking about death, giving away valued possessions, or showing signs of despondency.
She suggests that working adults build resilience by sticking to healthy routines, learning how to control their emotions, and staying away from harmful ways of coping, such as drinking alcohol. Instead, she suggests that people do yoga, meditate, exercise, or do something creative as healthier options. “Coping skills aren’t quick fixes; they take a lot of practice, but once you learn them, they can help you stay mentally healthy for a long time,” she said.
The Media and Institutions’ Role
Schools, colleges, and workplaces need to be important places where people can get help. Dr. Sharma said that we need to take a multi-sectoral strategy that includes counseling that is easy to get to, “gatekeeper training” for teachers and HR workers, and life-skills programs that teach how to control your emotions. She also advised that schools and universities provide frequent mental health examinations, much like they do physical check-ups.
Dr. Sharma also stressed how important the media is. She said that “irresponsible reporting with sensational details can inadvertently trigger copycat suicides.” She suggested following the WHO’s media guidelines, which say not to give information about the technique used and instead focus on stories of hope, resilience, and recovery.
A Responsibility Shared
Dr. Sharma ended with a strong message: suicide is preventable. She told people to be more understanding and to understand that asking for help is a show of strength, not weakness. She stated, “Doctors, families, schools, workplaces, and the media can all work together to build empathy and make mental health support more common.” Digital resources, like helplines and online therapy, can also be used to make care more accessible, especially in areas that don’t get enough of it. However, they work best when combined with in-person care.