NEW DELHI: One in four children in the age group of 13-15 years in India suffer from depression, which affects 86 million people in South-East Asia region, the WHO said today.
Informing that India has the highest suicide rate among 10 South-East Asian countries, the WHO released “Mental Health Status of Adolescents in South-East Asia: Evidence for Action” report which said in 2012, the estimated suicide rate per 1 lakh people in India, in the age group of 15–29 years, was 35.5.
The estimated suicide rates per 1 lakh people in this age group varied from 3.6 in Indonesia to 25.8 in Nepal, it said.
Noting that depression can lead to suicide, which is the second highest cause of death among people of age group 15-29 years in the region, WHO’s South-East Asia Regional Director, Poonam Khetrapal Singh, said depression-related health services must be made more accessible and of higher quality.
The report, released on the eve of World Health Day which focuses on depression this year, said the total population of India was 1,311.1 million, of which, adolescent (13-15 years) population was 75.5 million, which is 5.8 per cent of total population. Of that, 39.8 million were boys and 35.7 million girls.
Seven per cent adolescents were found to be “bullied” and they felt disturbed due to comments of their peers, family members or teachers.
25 per cent of adolescent were “depressed” and “sad or hopeless” while 11 per cent were “distracted” and had a hard time staying focused on their work most of times or always, the report said. (AGENCIES)
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