Suicides

According to a Reuters report, suicides are on a decline around the world. But it has been increasing in countries like Russia, Australia and Ireland.
“Suicide Rates Fall in Many Countries, Rise in Some “:http://www.sulekha.com/redirectnh.asp?cid=311564
bq. “It is almost impossible to find a common cause for all the different trends across regions and countries, but certain factors like socioeconomic instability, unemployment, easy access to means of committing suicide, mental disorders and substance use disorders are those commonly implicated,” he said.
Another place where suicide rates are rising in an alarming rate is the land of 100% literacy, Kerala. In May 2002 the average suicide rate was 27 per day.

“A first it could do without”:http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2002/06/02/stories/2002060201861700.htm
bq. Suraraj Mani says a voracious appetite for high-end consumer goods spurred by money lenders and hire-purchase schemes, the wide gap between people’s aspirations and actual capabilities, the disintegration of traditional social support mechanisms as was prevalent in joint families, emergence of a trend towards nuclear families, alcohol abuse, financial instability, family dysfunction and a growing population of the aged are some of the reasons for the high suicide rate.
I have read news reports of children committing suicide because the parents asked them not to watch TV etc. As a result parents are now scared to say anything to their children.
Some other firsts that are not mentioned are
* Kerala has the highest divorce rate in India
* Highest level of unemployment
* Kerala has the highest per capita consumption of alcohol in the country
* Kerala is the largest market for psychiatric drugs in South India