Chandra Shekhar Varma
World Suicide Prevention Day, observed on Sept 10, is a reminder that suicide is not merely a statistic or a private tragedy. In 2024, the country recorded 1,70,746 suicide deaths, the picture among students was even more disturbing. Student suicides rose to 14,488, a 4.3% increase over the previous year and the highest figure recorded so far. The 18 to 30 age group accounted for the largest share of suicide deaths.
But there is another dimension that deserves greater attention: what happens after a suicide is reported.
Psychologists have long studied the “Werther effect”, the phenomenon in which extensive or sensationalised reporting of a suicide can be followed by an increase in suicidal behaviour, particularly among vulnerable people. Friends must learn that “I am fine” is not always the end of a conversation. It is a public health concern, and prevention begins with the way we respond to distress. India’s latest NCRB data makes the concern difficult to ignore. Behind these numbers are young people negotiating academic pressure, career uncertainty, relationships, family expectations, loneliness and the relentless comparison that digital life often brings. The risk is greater when coverage is prominent, repeated, romanticised or describes the circumstances in unnecessary detail. The effect can become even more powerful in the age of social media, where one story can travel across platforms within minutes. This does not mean suicide should not be discussed. Quite the opposite. Silence can be dangerous. Talking about suicidal thoughts in a sensitive, non-judgmental manner can give a distressed person an opportunity to pause, rethink and seek help. The question is not whether we talk, but how we talk. This is where the media has an important, though delicate, role. A tragedy naturally attracts attention, but repetition can sometimes turn an individual death into a larger public narrative. Headlines, photographs, speculation about reasons and dramatic descriptions may unintentionally give the event a prominence it does not deserve. Responsible journalism does not conceal facts. It places them in context, avoids sensationalism and, importantly, tells readers where help is available. The WHO specifically recommends de-glamorised reporting and greater emphasis on stories of coping, recovery and hope. There is even a counter to the Werther effect, known as the Papageno effect. We need to listen to stories that focus on people who survived suicidal crises, found support and discovered alternatives can encourage help-seeking and have a protective influence. We must note prevention cannot be outsourced to the media only. Families must learn to ask difficult questions without panic or judgement. Schools and colleges need spaces where failure, rejection and uncertainty can be discussed without shame. Most importantly, young people need to know that a crisis can be temporary even when it feels permanent.
Our response should therefore move from shock to understanding, from curiosity to compassion, and from reporting the death to preventing the next one. That is where the real conversation about suicide prevention must begin. (The writer is a behavioural scientist, leadership coach and a relationship counsellor) You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Lucknow | Silver Rate in Lucknow | Bank Holidays in Lucknow | Public Holidays in Lucknow | Lucknow AQI | Weather in Lucknow | Petrol Price in Lucknow | Diesel Price in Lucknow | CNG Price in Lucknow | LPG Price in Lucknow Stay updated with the latest Lucknow news. Every suicide leaves a circle of grief around it. A young person in distress does not need a dramatic story about death. They need someone to listen, someone to stay, and someone to remind them that one bad chapter is not the end of the book. Download the TOI App.