Aizawl district SP Lalbiakthanga Khiangte told PTI that 37 persons including a nine-year-old boy and a 71-year-old man committed suicide in Aizawl district since January this year.
"Majority of those who committed suicide were young people suffering from extreme depression," Khiangte said.He said that a large number of suicides were committed in Aizawl city including by 71-year-old man due to poverty.Dr Lalhrekima of the Civil Hospital, Aizawl said that mental illness triggered by depression was the main cause of suicide and the majority of the Mizos were unaware that doctors could help such people.
According to state police records, 29 people committed suicide in 2007, 20 in 2008 and 43 in 2009. The total number of suicide cases since 2004 in the state till date was 2,220