Integrating mental health services in primary health care system in Sikkim

Suicide rate in Sikkim has increased exponentially in the last 10 years ranging 29 to 45 per 1 lakh population, much higher than the national average of 11 per 1 lakh population [1, 2]. The WHO report revealed nearly 8 people die from suicide every year [3]. In India, 135445 people committed suicide in 2012. Further, suicide is the commonest cause of death among 15-30 years age group [2]. Suicide per se is not a disease in itself but considered symptoms of other diseases. Mental illness, depression, alcoholism, substance dependence and personality traits/disorders are commonest causes of suicide in the World. The prevalent viewpoints with regard to causes of suicide are very different. People perceived minor failures in examination & relationship, marital discord, poverty, unemployment, job loss, and other problems pushes someone to take their own life. But if we reflect on our own lives, have we had not undergone through similar failures, pain and suffering ever. Therefore, the big question remains: why some people take their own life in the face of challenges/ problems while majority of us were able to cope with those problems/ stress effectively and move ahead in life.