Manipur: Rising suicide cases alarm Churachandpur

Guwahati: A recent report claimed that Churachandpur district in Manipur has witnessed a disturbing surge in suicide cases, with two recent incidents involving youths aged 23 and 28 in the past four days.

The victims took their own lives by hanging, but the exact reasons behind their actions remain unknown due to the absence of suicide notes, a report by Imphal Free Press stated.

However, it is speculated that trauma and anxiety might have driven them to this extreme step.

This year alone, Churachandpur town has reported 16 suicide cases, according to Nest Lamka, a local non-profit organization.

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Over the past decade, the district has recorded a staggering 176 cases, translating to approximately 17.6 cases per year or one case per month.

A study conducted by Nest Lamka, titled "Lamka Suicide Survey," revealed that 138 males and 38 females, primarily between 19-40 years old, accounted for 65.9% of the cases.

The remaining cases involved individuals above or below this age group.

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Notably, since 2023, people over 40 years old have also been affected by suicidal tendencies, potentially due to factors such as livelihood deprivation, substance abuse, and family conflicts.

Nest Lamka, founded in 2017 as a youth group and registered in 2019, focuses on addressing mental health, storytelling, grassroots education, and community health.

The organization has surveyed 33 cemeteries across 50 villages and engaged with interior villages to compile data on suicide cases.

To raise awareness, Nest Lamka organizes programs annually on World Suicide Prevention Day, observed on September 10.