Increasing Suicides in Far West Nepal: A Grim Reality

Dhangadhi - The Vice President of the CPN-UML Godawari Nagar Committee, Krit Bahadur Chand, was found dead in his home on Friday.

The 54-year-old former police officer’s death is currently under investigation, with initial reports suggesting suicide. The wave of suicides continues with the tragic death of 21-year-old Saraswati Bhatt from Melauli Municipality-7, Baitadi, discovered in a cornfield near her residence on Sunday.

Bhatt, a third-year bachelor’s student at Manilek Mavi, is among several young women in the region who have taken their lives recently. Just a day prior, Lakshmi Parki, a married woman from the same municipality, was found dead in Ward No. 5, Khaligad.

Police investigations into these deaths are ongoing. Earlier cases include Janaki Saund, 19, from Doti’s Dipyal-Silgadi Municipality-9, who committed suicide in Falgun 2080, and Pashupati Mahara, 17, from Dogdakedar Rural Municipality-2, Baitadi, in Chaitra 2080. Both cases remain unresolved.

The alarming trend also includes Aarti Bishta, 19, a student at Kailali Multipurpose Campus, and Swastika Thapa, 16, from Dhangadhi sub-metropolitan city-6, who took her life while studying law at Trinagar Madhyamik School.

The Far West region is grappling with a disturbing increase in suicides, particularly among young women. Parents report difficulties in protecting their daughters amidst rising cases.

Data shows that suicides in the Far West have increased annually, with 682 cases in 2077/78 compared to 539 in 2076/77. Studies attribute 60 to 90 percent of suicides to mental illness, highlighting mental problems, domestic violence, poverty, and socially unaccepted relationships as contributing factors. Notably, 29 percent of suicides are among youths aged 20 to 29, with Kailali district reporting the highest numbers.

Article 185 of Chapter 12 in the Civil Penal Code, effective since 2075, stipulates penalties for those forcing others to commit suicide, including imprisonment for up to five years and fines up to 50,000 rupees.

The Police Headquarters’ 'Study on Suicide Reduction and Management 2081' identifies mental illness and stress as primary causes. It calls for awareness campaigns, mental health treatment, and counseling to address these issues.

The study underscores the necessity of a holistic approach to reduce suicides, advocating for mental health promotion, stress management training, and culturally sensitive strategies to tackle the root causes of suicide.

In the past two years, 2,830 suicides have been recorded in the Far West, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive suicide prevention and reduction strategies.