Suicide: Concept and its legal implications

Pages: 637-641
Harprit Kaur and Amandeep Singh (Department of Psychology, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab)

According to WHO, about 800000 persons worldwide lost their lives by suicide in 2014. India accounted for 258,000 (82%) of the suicides in the South-East Asia Region countries and suicide rate in the region was 17.7 per 100,000 populations. The understanding of suicide and suicide attempt remains a huge challenge for society, health care services and legal system. The present article aimed to review the concept of suicide and various terminologies related to suicide, to highlight the various psychosocial triggers related to suicide and to depict the legal understanding of suicide in Indian context. The new Mental Healthcare Act 2017 rescinds/revoked the existing Mental Healthcare Act 1987 which had been widely criticized for not recognizing the rights of a mentally ill person. From a legal perspective, the present article emphasized upon need for a comprehensive health program to reduce its incidence and role of government and the health sector in spreading anti-suicide awareness to eliminate taboo, stigma, shame and guilt attached with suicide. Furthermore, some preventive measures have been suggested that legislative system shall take into account before making any policies for ensuring the dignity of mentally ill persons.