RTI query shows 10,657 suicides in nine years

Free Press Journal: Mumbai: Friday, August 03, 2018.

According to a Right to Information Act query, the data of Mumbai police has revealed the city of dreams, Mumbai, has recorded a total of 10,657 suicide cases in the last nine years, from 2008 to 2016. The data also states, of the total 10,657 suicides, 6,507 were by males and 4,150 by females. RTI activist Shakeel Ahmed Shaikh had sought information on the number of suicides from January 2008 1,111 Mumbaikars committed suicide in that year, of which 667 were males and 444 were females. In 2009, the number fell slightly, with 1,051 suicides  by 621 males and 430 females.

In 2010, the number increased, with 1,192 suicide cases  701 males and 491 females. The count dropped slightly in 2011, with 1,162 suicides in the city by 640 males and 522 females. The year 2012 registered 1,196 suicide cases with 762 males and 534 females. Shaikh opines people in Mumbai are committing suicide due to financial stress they face on a daily basis. He has also suggested the government needs to make provision for counselling people under immense stress. In the nine-year period (2008-2016), the most number of suicides were registered in 2013 –1,322 cases, 831 by males and 491 by females. In 2014 and 2015, 1,196 and 1,122 cases of suicides were registered respectively. In 2016, the number rose, with 1205 suicides  809 by males and 396 by females.