Suicides rise sharply in Northern Province

A sharp increase in suicides in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province has raised serious concern, with health officials warning that the worsening mental health situation could be contributing to the trend.

Northern Province Governor Nagalingam Vedanayagam has instructed officials to urgently formulate a mechanism to address the increase, following reports that 84 people in Jaffna alone had died by suicide during the past three months.

The issue was discussed at a meeting held at the Northern Province Governor’s Office on August 12, where health officials highlighted a more than threefold increase in the number of people suffering from mental stress-related conditions in the province.

Health officials said that in a region which had experienced a prolonged war, the number of people suffering from mental stress-related conditions would normally be around 15 per 100,000 people. However, the current figure in the Northern Province has risen to more than three times that level.

They warned that the deterioration in mental health was having a significant impact on the rising number of suicides.

Alcohol consumption, domestic violence, communication gaps in interpersonal relationships, loneliness and severe mental stress were identified as some of the main factors contributing to the situation.

An analysis of suicides reported so far had shown that these factors were among the principal causes, officials said.

The meeting proposed that all government departments in the Northern Province should actively develop programmes to help address the crisis and provide greater support to vulnerable people.

People suffering from depression, family problems or loneliness were urged to seek psychological counselling through the NEYAM unit of the Northern Province Health Department, which operates 24 hours a day free of charge.

Assistance can be obtained by calling 021 222 6666, with officials assuring that all information provided by those seeking support would be kept strictly confidential.