Suicide rates in Polonnaruwa District on the rise

The increasing rate of suicides witnessed in the Polonnaruwa District had reached worrying proportions according to health authorities.

Consultant Psychiatrist of the Mental Health Unit (MHU) of the Polonnaruwa General Hospital, Dr. Nayana Edirisinghe, told the media that a majority of those who commit suicide were between the ages of 14 and 25. She said the break-ups, crop devastation, and economic constraints were the most common reasons for individuals to commit suicide.

Astartling fact that was revealed by authorities was that while the total number of suicides reported in 2014 was 338,

While the total number of suicides reported in 2014 was 338, in just the first nine months of this year, Jan-Sept., a total of 408 suicides had been reported from the Polonnaruwa District alone

in just the first nine months of this year, Jan-Sept., a total of 408 suicides had been reported from the Polonnaruwa District alone.

The media conference held on Monday (5) evening at the Polonnaruwa Regional DHS office was intended to create awareness about a programme to be conducted in the Polonnaruwa District scheduled for October 9 and 10 to mark World Mental Health Day. Dr. (Mrs) Edirisinghe pointed out that domestic disputes, the frequent consumption of liqour and drugs, marriages among minors, teenage pregnancies were some of the reasons given by persons for contemplating suicide. She said that older persons often attempted to take their life due to family disputes, crop devastation, indebtedness, and economic constraints. She stressed the need to focus attention on the state of people’s mental health through continual programmes instead of only talking about it when World Mental Health Day came along.

Dr. Lasni Madigasekara and Dr. Rohan De Silva of the Mental Health Unit also addressed the media.