Kozhikode: Kerala has witnessed a worrying surge in suicides over the past decade, with the numbers climbing steadily year after year. In 2014, the state reported 8,446 suicides,  which rose to 10,865 in 2024. The data comes from a study conducted by the Kozhikode-based Thanal Suicide Prevention Centre, which analysed figures from the State Crime Records Bureau.

The trend
During the ten years between 2014 and 2024, only 2015 and 2020  showed a decline compared to the previous year. The number of suicides dropped to 7,692 in 2015, down from 8,446 in 2014. However, the trend reversed soon after. In 2016, 7,705 suicides were reported, followed by 7,870 in 2017. The numbers continued to rise: 8,237 in 2018, 8,556 in 2019, before a dip to 8,500 in 2020. From 2021 onwards, the rise was sharper with 9,549 suicides in 2021, 10,162 in 2022 and 10,972 in 2023, culminating in 10,865 cases in 2024.

Age group and gender
The majority of victims belonged to the 30–60 age group, accounting for 53 per cent of the suicides. Men made up a staggering 82 per cent of the total, with 8,865 male victims in 2024 alone. Family issues emerged as the leading cause, responsible for 54 per cent of the cases. Mental health problems and other illnesses accounted for 18.7 per cent, while 10.2 per cent were linked to drug abuse. In terms of methods, 79.9 per cent of the victims died by hanging and 11.6 per cent by consuming poison.

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