Every year, 10 September is observed worldwide as World Suicide Prevention Day. The central theme of the 2024–2026 triennial campaign is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide,” with the 2026 call to action being “Start the Conversation.”
This means replacing silence, fear, misconceptions and social stigma surrounding suicide with open conversations, empathy, social connectedness, and timely treatment and support. Today, suicide is not merely an individual problem. It is an important public health concern and a social crisis. Therefore, its prevention is not the responsibility of any single individual, family, doctor or government alone; it requires a collective effort involving every level of society.
But the question is—are we really talking?
Or, when someone is silently breaking down from within, are we simply telling them, “Everything will be fine”? Behind the Statistics Are Countless Unfinished Lives According to the Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India 2024 report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), published in 2025, 170,746 people died by suicide in India in 2024. The country's overall suicide rate was 12.2 per one lakh population. We should not look at this number merely as a statistic. A number can never tell the complete story of a human being. 170,746 means 170,746 families.170, 746 relationships. 170,746 unfinished dreams. And the profound and lasting psychological impact on countless other lives. According to NCRB data, the largest recorded category of causes of suicide at the national level was family problems—33.5%. This was followed by illness—approximately 18%, and drug abuse/addiction— approximately 7.6%. This carries an extremely important message: suicide is generally not the result of a single cause. Family conflict, relationship difficulties, physical or mental illness, financial stress, debt, loneliness, social isolation and different life crises can interact with one another and increase vulnerability.
Tripura's Statistics: Another Warning Sign
We must also look closely at the situation in our own state. According to NCRB data for 2024, 615 suicide deaths were recorded in Tripura, with a suicide rate of 14.7 per one lakh population, which was higher than the national average of 12.2. Even more concerning is that, among the recorded cases in Tripura, 446 cases (72.5%) were classified as being related to family problems, while 138 cases (22.4%) were associated with illness. These numbers should not be viewed merely as police statistics. They are a mirror of our society. They raise an important question before us: Can we reach people before their problems become overwhelming? We need to ask: Why does a person feel helpless even within their own family? Why are relationship crises becoming so intense? Why is the culture of talking about psychological suffering associated with illness still not strong enough? Suicide Prevention Means More than Preventing Death Suicide prevention does not simply mean stopping a person at the moment of crisis. It means creating a society where people can ask for help before they reach a crisis point. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that suicide is preventable. Timely psychological support, identification of risk, appropriate treatment, social connectedness, and reducing access to highly lethal means during periods of crisis are important preventive measures. Therefore, we need to develop a few important habits in our everyday lives.
First—Recognize the Warning Signs
If someone is experiencing severe and persistent hopelessness, withdrawing from everyone, expressing feelings of worthlessness, becoming completely hopeless about the future, or talking about death, the situation should not be taken lightly.
Second—Talk Directly Ask: “Are you going through a very difficult time?” “Do you ever feel that staying alive has become too difficult?” Such questions should not be avoided. According to WHO, responsible and compassionate conversations about suicide can provide a person with an opportunity to express their feelings and open the door to help.
Third—Listen, Don't Judge Instead of saying: “Why are you worrying so much about such a small matter?” “You have everything!” “Be strong.” Let us say: “I am listening to you.” “You are not alone.” “Let us seek help together.” Sometimes a person does not need a great speech. They simply need someone who will sit beside them and listen without judgment.
Government Policy Also Emphasizes Mental Health as a Priority
The Government of India has adopted the National Suicide Prevention Strategy, one of whose major goals is to achieve a 10% reduction in suicide mortality by 2030. The strategy includes public awareness, expansion of mental health services, identification of suicide risk, training at different levels, mental health and life-skills education in schools and colleges, and multisectoral suicide-prevention measures.
The WHO LIVE LIFE framework also emphasizes four important areas: 1. Restricting access to highly lethal means of suicide 2. Responsible reporting of suicide by the media 3. Developing socio-emotional life skills among young people 4. Early identification, support and follow-up of people at risk of suicide or self-harm.
Tele-MANAS: Help Is Only a Phone Call Away
During periods of psychological stress, anxiety, depression, loneliness or suicidal thoughts, do not hesitate to seek help. Tele-MANAS: 14416 Toll-Free: 1800-89-14416 Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week Under the Government of India's National Tele-Mental Health Programme, Tele-MANAS provides 24×7 mental health support in Tripura as well as across the country and can facilitate access to counselling, specialist consultation and appropriate treatment services when required. If someone is in immediate danger, they should not be left alone and should be taken to the nearest hospital emergency department.
Strengthening Mental Health Services in Tripura
The State Government is giving importance not only to improving mental health infrastructure but also to developing skilled and trained human resources. Another important aspect of the State Government's plan is to make mental health services less capital-centric and more accessible to people in districts and remote areas. Mental healthcare needs to be more closely integrated with district hospitals, Community Health Centres (CHCs), Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and other government healthcare facilities, rather than relying only on medical colleges or major mental health institutions. Through the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP), there is a need to further strengthen district-level services including treatment, counselling, psychosocial support, awareness activities and referral to higher centres whenever necessary. A major objective of DMHP is to strengthen mental health services, human resources and infrastructure within the district healthcare system and expand community-based mental healthcare. Alongside psychiatrists, increasing the availability of clinical psychologists, psychiatric social workers, psychiatric nurses and other trained mental health professionals can make mental healthcare more effective. Strengthening regular mental health OPD services, initial screening, counselling, suicide-risk assessment, emergency mental health support and referral systems at district hospitals can make mental healthcare much more accessible to ordinary people. Similarly, training doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers at PHC and CHC levels in mental health and suicide prevention is extremely important. Awareness at the level of schools, colleges, workplaces and communities is equally important. If adolescents and young people are made aware in time about psychological stress, examination pressure, relationship problems, substance use, family difficulties and suicide risk, many problems can be identified at an early stage. Counselling services in educational institutions and workplaces, together with effective referral systems to mental health professionals when necessary, should also be strengthened. This comprehensive system can create one of the most important protective networks for suicide prevention: Identify problems early. Start the conversation early. Provide treatment early. And, most importantly, do not allow a person to face the crisis alone.
The Role of the Media Is Extremely Important
The media also has a major responsibility in reporting suicide. Instead of describing the method of suicide, providing unnecessary details or presenting the incident in a sensational manner, news coverage should focus on mental health, warning signs, prevention, treatment, support and helplines. A responsible news report can help save a life; irresponsible reporting can cause harm. Let Change Begin at Home Every family should strive to create an environment where a child can talk about their problems, a student can ask for help after performing poorly in an examination, a working person can discuss workplace stress, an older person can talk about loneliness, and a person living with illness can express their psychological suffering—without shame or fear. We should not prepare our children only for success. We must also teach them how to stand up again after failure. Life is not a straight line. There will be ups and downs. There will be success and failure; happiness and suffering. A difficult period never defines an entire life. Our New Social Commitment On this World Suicide Prevention Day, let us make a small but powerful commitment: We will not remain silent. We will not judge. We will not minimize someone's suffering. We will ask directly when necessary.We will listen.We will stay beside them. We will seek help. Because suicide prevention is not only the responsibility of doctors. It is not only the responsibility of the government. It is not only the responsibility of families.
It is the responsibility of all of us. A phone call. A question.
A few minutes spent listening with genuine attention. A simple sentence— “I am here for you.” Perhaps that may be enough to change the course of someone's life. The final message is simple: Life is not always easy, but life can change. The person who has fallen today may stand again tomorrow. The door that appears closed today may open into another opportunity tomorrow. So let us transform the story of suicide from merely a story of death into a story of hope, treatment, recovery and standing beside one another. Break the silence. Start the conversation. Listen with empathy. Stay beside them. Seek help. Save a life. “Before a life is lost, let a conversation begin.”
-Dr. Priyajyoti Chakma Associate Professor Department of Psychiatry AGMC & GBP Hospital
