Hey there, Pune! It’s a sobering statistic, but the numbers don’t lie—over the past four years, a shocking 3,961 people have died by suicide in our city. Men seem to be bearing the brunt of this crisis, accounting for a significantly higher proportion of these tragic cases.
According to recent data, financial stress, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, has been a major driving factor behind men taking their own lives. On the other hand, family disputes have emerged as the leading cause of suicides among women in Pune.
In the period from 2021 to 2024, a total of 2,849 men and 1,173 women lost their lives to suicide in our city. It’s alarming to note that incidents of men dying by suicide due to family disputes have been on the rise, underscoring the increasing psychological strain on both men and women.
In recent weeks, Pune has been rocked by a series of high-profile suicides, including the tragic deaths of prominent individuals like HBP Shirish Maharaj More and a police sub-inspector from Khadki. The reasons behind these heartbreaking incidents range from marital troubles to breakup-induced despair.
This trend is not unique to Pune—it’s part of a larger national crisis. Across India, close to 200,000 people die by suicide every year, with a significant portion of these deaths occurring among young individuals aged 15 to 35. The disruptions caused by the pandemic have only worsened stress levels within families and communities, leading to this disturbing surge in suicides.
While suicides were once primarily linked to specific incidents like marital problems or academic failures, recent years have seen a shift towards diverse causes such as financial struggles, relationship breakdowns, and mental health issues. Shockingly, cases of men dying by suicide due to harassment from their spouses or in-laws have been on the rise in Pune.
One contributing factor to this crisis has been the proliferation of mobile loan apps that resorted to aggressive and humiliating tactics when borrowers defaulted. Many borrowers faced harassment, leading some to take drastic measures. Thankfully, the central government stepped in to regulate these apps and curb their harmful practices.
Mental health experts stress the importance of timely intervention in preventing suicides. Studies show that most individuals express suicidal thoughts to someone close to them before taking their own lives. Greater awareness and support within families and communities could potentially save lives.
The statistics are grim, but they paint a stark picture of the mental health challenges facing our city. It’s clear that more needs to be done to address the root causes of suicide and provide the necessary support to those in need. Let’s come together as a community to tackle this crisis and prevent further loss of life.
Thanks For Reading Report of Punepress.com