Undergraduates commit maximum suicides in Mumbai

Undergraduates or people who have never been to a school comprise a huge share of the number of suicides in the city

A whopping 91% people who committed suicide in Mumbai in the past three years are undergraduates, as found by the Mumbai police.

Of the 3,640 people who committed suicides between 2013 and 2015, about 3,321 people either never went to school or are school and college drop outs (HT File Photo)

Of the 3,640 people who committed suicides between 2013 and 2015, about 3,321 people either never went to school or are school and college drop outs.

Of them, about 332 never went to school, 607 left schools after primary section, another 1,016 left school before SSC, 838 completed SSC but never attended college and 528 are college drop outs.

The remaining 9% suicides are committed by people who had done their diploma (18 suicides), graduation (128 suicides) or were professionals (17 suicides). Educational qualification of as many as 156 persons, who ended their lives, is unknown.

Speaking on the facts, psychiatrist Dr Yusuf Matcheswalla told HT, “The statistics do not imply that people with less IQ commit suicide. The ratio of undergraduates and graduates in our city has to be considered. For example, many illiterate farmers commit suicide. Then there are social and cultural problems.”

He added: “However, the statistics does reflect the underlying psychopathology in poorly educated people. For example, the ones who are poorly educated are more economically deprived when compared to others who are fairly educated and well settled. Also, poorly educated people are not as affluent or well-settled in life when compared to people who are more educated. Poorly educated people also face financial problems and hardship in their lives. Being poorly educated cuts their opportunity to grow in life and thereby adds to their family problems and also affects their relationships. Finding a good life partner also becomes difficult,” added Matcheswalla.