Open Access(De-) criminalization of attempted suicide in India: A review
Author(s) -
Rajeev Ranjan,
Saurabh Kumar,
Raman Deep Pattanayak,
Anju Dhawan,
Rajesh Sagar
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
industrial psychiatry journal/industrial psychiatry journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 0976-2795
pISSN - 0972-6748
DOI - 10.4103/0972-6748.144936
Subject(s) - decriminalization , criminalization , psychological intervention , mental health , criminology , criminal code , psychiatry , stigma (botany) , psychology , criminal law , political science
Attempted suicide is a serious problem requiring mental health interventions, but it continues to be treated as a criminal offence under the section 309 of Indian Penal Code. The article reviews the international legal perspective across various regions of the world, discusses the unintended consequences of section 309 IPC and highlights the need for decriminalization of attempted suicide in India. The Mental Health Care Bill, 2013, still under consideration in the Rajya Sabha (upper house), has proposed that attempted suicide should not be criminally prosecuted. Decriminalization of suicidal attempt will serve to cut down the undue stigma and avoid punishment in the aftermath of incident, and lead to a more accurate collection of suicide-related statistics. From a policy perspective, it will further emphasize the urgent need to develop a framework to deliver mental health services to all those who attempt suicide.