Press Note Details: Press Information Bureau

Social Welfare

World Suicide Prevention Day

Hope Beyond Despair: Preventing Suicide Together

Posted On: 09 SEP 2025 7:06PM

Key Takeaways

World Suicide Prevention Day (10th September): Observed globally to raise awareness, foster compassion, and promote collective action in preventing suicides.
India’s first National Suicide Prevention Strategy (2022): Aims to reduce suicide mortality by 10% by 2030 through multi-sectoral action.
National initiatives: Programs like Tele-MANAS (Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States), DMHP (District Mental Health Programme), RKSK (Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram), and Manodarpan strengthen helplines, community outreach, and school-based support.

What is World Suicide Prevention Day?

World Suicide Prevention Day is observed since 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), with the World Health Organization (WHO) as co-sponsor. The day mobilises governments, organisations and the public around one message: Suicide is preventable. The triennial theme for World Suicide Prevention Day (2024–2026) is “Changing the Narrative on Suicide”. This theme calls on us all to challenge harmful myths, reduce stigma, and foster open, compassionate conversations around suicide.

This day holds significance as every year, over 727,000 people die by suicide globally (2021 figures), and for each death, an estimated 20 suicide attempts are made.In 2021, suicide was the third leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds globally underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive intervention strategies.

Suicide in India: Magnitude, Trends, and Key Demographics

India accounts for a third of global female suicides annually and nearly a fourth of male suicides. On an average, more than 100,000 lives are lost to suicide in India each year. The underlining factors include:

Overall Prevalence: In India, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics showed a consistent, concerning rise in suicide rates from 9.9 per lakh population in 2017 to 12.4 per lakh population in 2022 .
Geographic Variations: The incidence rates of suicide vary across states, ranging from 0.6 per 100,000 population in Bihar to 43.1 per 100,000 population in Sikkim. The southern cities of Vijayawada (42.6 per 100,000 population) and Kollam (42.5 per 100, 000 population) reported the highest rates in 2022.

Delhi Metro’s 2024 Campaign Marked World Suicide Prevention Day

In 2024, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) launched a special awareness campaign to observe World Suicide Prevention Day. The initiative aimed to foster greater understanding, compassion, and support for individuals dealing with mental health challenges.

As part of the campaign, DMRC placed banners and digital displays at key Metro stations across Delhi, carrying messages of hope and resilience. The awareness drive also extended to online platforms, with active engagement on social media to spark conversations around mental well-being.

By reaching out to passengers through both visual and digital mediums, the 2024 campaign further strengthened DMRC’s commitment to building a supportive environment and spreading awareness on the importance of mental health.

Manodarpan Initiative

Manodarpan is a nationwide initiative by the Ministry of Education (formerly MHRD), launched under the broader Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, to provide psychosocial support for the mental health and emotional well-being of students, teachers, and families.

Key components of the initiative include:

Web Portal: Resources, FAQs, posters, videos, and tips for mental well-being.
24x7 Toll-Free Helpline (8448440632): Tele-counseling by trained psychologists.
Counselor Directory: National database of counselors across schools, colleges, and universities.
Publications: 21st Century Skills Handbook to build resilience and life skills.
Interactive Platforms: Online tools, chatbots, and apps for psychological support.

How Can You Help

Way Forward

India is advancing suicide prevention through a comprehensive set of initiatives. The National Suicide Prevention Strategy (NSPS), launched in 2022, aims to cut suicide mortality by 10% by 2030. To expand access, the Tele-MANAS helpline now operates 53 cells across 36 states and UTs, handling over a million calls, while the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) covers 767 districts with community-level crisis care. Mental health services have also been integrated into over 1.78 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, alongside strengthened capacity in AIIMS, Centres of Excellence, and government medical colleges. For young people, the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK), the School Health & Wellness Programme, and the Manodarpan initiative provide critical support in schools and communities. Together, these efforts reflect India’s holistic, multi-tiered approach to mainstreaming mental health and reducing suicides.

References

PIB