Socio-economic, psychological and situational causes of suicides of farmers – A study in Telangana state

Suicides are the leading cause of mortality across the globe. India, which faced drought conditions at least once every three years over the last few decades, is amongst the most vulnerable and drought prone countries in the world. India is the second highest contributor to the total number of suicides in the global pool. India is an agrarian country with around 60% of its people depending directly or indirectly upon agriculture. Farmer suicides account for 11.2% of all suicides in India. Farmer suicide in India is the intentional ending of one's life by a person dependent on farming as their primary source of livelihood. Suicide, in addition to loss of life, also leads to socioeconomic changes in family, causing distress and psychological problems in survivors. In this study is focusing on farmers’ suicides as a special group. Almost 90% of persons who commit or attempt suicide has a diagnosable mental disorder. Farmers are an occupational category with high suicide risk and their risk is more than that of the non-farming population. But there is no conclusive evidence as to whether farmers have more psychiatric morbidity than the general population.