The report titled ‘Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India—2007’ said the number of suicides in Gujarat increased to 5,580 in 2007 from 5,035 in 2006, an increase of 10.8 per cent. The national average was 3.9 per cent.

Gujarat, where 4.6 per cent of the total suicides in the country took place, ranked 8th after Maharashtra, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh.

Family problems topped the list of causes that led to suicides in the state. About 18 per cent suicides, i.e. 1,016 incidents, were committed because of family-related problems. The second reason was prolonged illness (15 per cent), followed by insanity (11 per cent). The report further says that 198 suicides, that is 3.5 per cent of the total, were committed because of unemployment.

Also, 125 people committed suicide because of poverty even as the total food grains production increased by 2.4 per cent in the year 2006-07, along with rise in the per capital income.

About 317 people, who were self-employed in farm and agriculture sector, committed suicide. They contributed to nearly 5.7 per cent of the total number of suicides in the state.

The report said that 47 women committed suicide because of dowry disputes. Of the total suicides registered in the state, 40 per cent, that is 2,205 were committed by women, most of them housewives.

City-based psychiatrist Hansal Bhachech believes that increase in stress levels and lack of social and emotional support in today’s fast life had resulted in the rise of suicide incidents.

“With both the wife and husband working to make ends meet, there has been increase in the stress levels among people. Also, with increase in number of nuclear families, there is lack of social and emotional support available for individuals,” Bhachech said.

According to Bhachech, Gujarat being a progressive state has a lot of job opportunities. “In order to compete with this workforce from outside, people need to perform better and many a time this increases stress levels,” he said, adding that some people succumb to the pressure and take the extreme step.

With regard to the high rate of suicide among housewives, Bhachech said women who stay at home and manage it, are not appreciated by their family for their contribution.