SURKHET: The number of children dying by suicide, mainly due to family disputes, is increasing in Karnali Province.
A recent case in Barahatal Rural Municipality, Surkhet, involved an 11-year-old boy who took his own life following household arguments. In another case, an eight-year-old girl from Aathbiskot Municipality in Rukum West hanged herself when no one else was home.
SSP Shiv Kumar Shrestha, the information office of the Karnali Province Police Office, said regular quarrels between the girl’s parents were the main contributing factor.
Children are also found to take their lives due to poverty, imitation and sudden emotional impulses. “Investigations show that domestic violence, physical abuse and verbal insults from parents have also led some children to commit suicide,” SSP Shrestha said.
Despite efforts by Nepal Police to prevent suicides through awareness campaigns, the trend does not appear to be slowing. Shrestha said that suicide prevention and reduction efforts are ongoing in collaboration with various concerned agencies.
As part of community-police partnerships, Nepal Police has launched a nationwide suicide prevention campaign. More than 4,000 committees have been formed across the country under this campaign.
Karnali Province still lacks a dedicated mental health hospital. Even where services are available, there is a shortage of trained mental health professionals.
Rising unemployment, financial hardship, social stigma and neglect have all been linked to the increasing number of suicides. Police investigations also suggest that the misuse of social media and the rise of cybercrime have contributed to the problem.
Police say that efforts to prevent suicides are hampered by a lack of public knowledge and awareness, as well as a shortage of scientific research on prevention strategies. “There is also a serious lack of psychological counseling for people with suicidal thoughts,” said SSP Shrestha. “Due to social stigma and the tendency to hide mental illness, these issues are often not addressed in time.”
Karnali Province still lacks a dedicated mental health hospital. Even where services are available, there is a shortage of trained mental health professionals. Among the 10 districts in the province, mental health treatment is only available in Surkhet. Karnali Province Hospital, which is always inundated with patients, also lacks facilities to provide specialized care or isolate patients in need of psychiatric support.
“This is one of the reasons why many turn to suicide in the absence of timely treatment,” Purna Rawat, a psychologist at the provincial hospital, said. “Mental health issues are becoming more common among children. However, there is a lack of dedicated facilities for their treatment.”
There are only three mental health specialists in the entire province. While counseling services exist in all districts except Surkhet, full-fledged psychiatric care is not available.
Rawat said that mental health conditions are a significant factor in suicides. “We cannot address suicide by simply talking about it once. We need ongoing conversations about mental health,” he said. “People struggling with suicidal thoughts need someone to talk to and someone to listen—but such safe spaces are not available. The state has not prioritized the development of such support structures.”
While counseling services exist in all districts except Surkhet, full-fledged psychiatric care is not available.
Rawat added that suicide prevention cannot be achieved through awareness alone. “Schools, teachers, students, families and communities all need to be informed,” he said, calling for integrating discussions about mental health and suicide prevention into school curricula.
According to Rawat, individuals at higher risk of suicide include adolescents and young adults, people living in isolation after divorce or separation, those in troubled marriages, victims of domestic or gender-based violence, survivors of sexual abuse or rape, those facing social disgrace, individuals who have experienced romantic failures or severe financial losses, and those with a loss of hope or self-confidence.
“People who have previously attempted suicide are also at higher risk,” he added.
Mental Health Helpline Numbers
- Patan Hospital Helpline for Suicide Prevention: 9813476123
- Transcultural Psychosocial Organization-Nepal Crisis Hotline: 16600102005
- TUTH Hotline for Suicide Prevention: 9840021600
