91% of suicides in past 3 years committed by undergraduates

MUMBAI: In a reply to an HT query filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act last month, the police department last week revealed that 91 per cent of those who committed suicide across Mumbai in the past three years were undergraduates. The remaining nine per cent comprised graduates, diploma holders and professionals. In addition, educational or professional qualification of 156 persons remains unknown till date. The reply came in last week.

HT Image

EXPERT OPINION

Commenting on the rising incidents of suicides among youth, psychiatrist Dr Yusuf Matcheswalla told HT, “The statistics do not imply that people with less IQ commit suicide. While analysing these statistics, one must consider the number of undergraduates, graduates and those with higher academic qualifications. Besides, there are social and cultural problems which must be considered.”

He added that the statistics, however, do reflect the underlying psychopathology of those with poor academic background.

“The ones who are poorly educated are more economically deprived in comparison to those who are fairly or better educated. Also, poorly educated people are in less better places as compared to those with higher education. For example, labourers face perpetual hardship. Being poorly educated limits the number of opportunities coming their way, resulting in financial and family problems. Finding a good life partner also becomes difficult,” Matcheswalla said.