A survey recently revealed that domestic dispute, economic constraints, unemployment, poverty and depression have compelled some 26,376 people to commit suicide during the last nine years. The ups and downs of society, poverty, economic constraints, unemployment, loneliness, mental torture and depression are some of the reasons that led these people to end their lives.
In the year 2001, the government of Pakistan passed an ordinance on mental health but still no proper implementation has taken place in this regard. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) all countries should try practically to stop incidents of suicide. There should be promotional programmes on mental health besides stopping the use of illegal arms.
Moreover, the government should ban selling of insect killers and sleeping pills to common public without proper prescription. It should also provide mental health services to prisoners as the incidents of suicide are more rampant in jails.
Madadgaar, a joint venture of Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Aid (LHRLA) and UNICEF has recorded incidents of violation of human rights documented in its Research and Database Centre.
As per the record, number of suicide cases in January to June 2008, 1065 cases of suicide occurred. As per reported incidents, 83 boys, 55 girls, 303 women and 624 men committed suicide. As per provincial break down, only one case was reported in Balochistan, 74 from NWFP, 500 Punjab and 490 from Sindh.
According to Madadgaar Database, in the year 2007, 2926 people committed suicide including men, women and children. According to the reported events, 340 boys, 180 girls, 1041 women and 1365 men committed suicide.
Provincial break-up of 2007 shows 140 people committed suicide from Balochistan, 210 from NWFP, 1529 from Punjab and 1047 from Sindh. The reasons for suicide highlighted in the research include domestic dispute, disappointment, depression, family dispute, unemployment, economic constraints, mental torture, illness, family disputes, drug addiction, dowry problems, loneliness and being mentally challenged. Those who took their lives followed different methods that include taking poisonous pills, drowning, drinking poison, hanging, electrocution, self-immolation, jumping in front of vehicle, gunshot and self-injury.
2865 Children between the age group of 11-17years have committed suicide due to the aggressive behaviour, disappointment and scolding. Men and women from 18-30 years and from 32-70 years also committed suicide for different reasons. Some incidents took place in jails, police custody as well as in their own homes.
In 2007, 987 cases of suicide were reported in Lahore, 786in Multan, 94 in Gujranwalla, 63 in Karachi, 60 in Peshawar, 58 in Faisalabad, Khairpur 45, Sukkur 38, Hyderabad 36, Islamabad 28, Rawalpindi 27, Tandoadam 22, Larkana 17 and 15 from Dadu.
In comparison to the reports published in 2006, a total of 2926 cases were reported in 2007. This figure shows that the reported cases in 2007 increased where cases of boys, girls and women were more rampant. In comparison to 2006, more men committed suicide in 2007. The data collected since the last nine years revealed that from January 2000 to June 2008 (26376) cases were reported from all over Pakistan.-PR