KATHMANDU, Nov 23: A total of 1,794 people committed suicide in the first three months of the current fiscal year. According to Nepal Police Headquarters, Naxal, this number of suicides occurred from Shrawan (mid-July to mid-August) to Ashwin (mid-September to mid-October) of the current fiscal year.
Experts and social analysts say that suicides have increased due to the growing economic crisis, leading to high family conflicts. "Nowadays, many businessmen have been grappling with depression due to their financial problems, and because of this, there has also been a crisis within their families," said an analyst, "Unable to cope with the financial and mental pressure stemming from business problems, it seems that people have been facing depression and committed suicide."
According to the Nepal Police Headquarters, during this three-month period, the majority of suicides occurred by hanging, totaling 1,544 cases. The individuals who committed suicide include 848 men, 488 women, 140 girls, and 68 boys.
The number of people who committed suicide by consuming poison is 218, while 16 people committed suicide by jumping off high structures and eight people took their lives by drowning. Similarly, during this period, five people committed suicide by self-immolation, while three individuals have been reported to have succumbed to self-inflicted wounds by using weapons.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Kuber Kadayat, spokesperson for the Nepal Police, highlighted common factors leading to suicide, such as depression, family discord, and issues related to love affairs.
In the last fiscal year alone, the number of suicides in Nepal reached 6,993. This is the highest in the past decade. Industrialists express concern over the increasing trend, particularly among small business owners, citing the recent economic downturn and depression in Nepal. If the current challenging situation persists, experts anticipate that this trend will increase further.