SC asks Centre to file status report on preventing suicides in country

New Delhi [India], July 11 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Central Government to file a status report mentioning the efforts taken by health ministry to prevent suicides in the country.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said, “Counsel appearing on behalf of the Union of India states that in response to the petition, a comprehensive affidavit of the steps which are being taken to allay the grievance in the petition shall be filed .The affidavit be filed within a period of four weeks.”

The court observed the suicides by children as a very serious issue and directed the Union Health Ministry to apprise the Court about the steps taken by them to prevent such incidents in the country.

The Supreme Court was hearing the PIL filed by Gaurav Kumar Bansal, advocate wherein he highlighted the issue of SUICIDES by adolescent in the national capital.

The top court listed the petition on August 9, 2024.

In his petition, Bansal has highlighted that as per RTI replies provided by Delhi Police more than 400 students under 18 years of age has died by suicide in the national capital of Delhi between 2014 and 2018.

“Suicides are preventable. Apart from tragedy, Suicide is a major public health issue which the respondents have failed to recognized as a public health problem,” the petition copy said.

“What adds insult to the injury is the taboo T and stigma surrounding suicide resulting into building a social environment where people hesitate to seek help and in case any people wish to seek help, our Public Health System And Services fails to provide timely and effective mechanism,” the petition said.

The petitioner has mentioned that as per World Health Organization report titled, as “PREVENTIVE SUICIDE – A GLOBAL IMPERATIVE”, Young people are among the most affected suicide is now the second leading cause of death for those between the ages of 15 and 29 years globally.

The petitioner sought to forthwith direct the Centre and State Governments to immediately take appropriate steps for the prevention and reduction of suicides in their respective jurisdiction.

The petitioner also sought to directs concerned authorities to forthwith Plan, Design, Formulate and effectively implement Public Health Programme for the prevention and reduction of suicides in their respective jurisdiction as provided under Section 29 and Section 115 of the Mental Healthcare Act – 2017 and to start a project for providing aid, support and advice to Persons with Suicidal thoughts through Call Centers / Helplines at state level in their respective States and UTs.

The petitioner also sought for providing aid, support and advice to Persons with Suicidal. thoughts through Call Centers / Helplines at National level.