Submitted To: Mr.

Aashish Gaur

Theory of Suicide
By Emile
Durkheim in Indian
Context
Submitted By: Monika Sheoran
Roll No.: 21080
2nd Semester
 Theory of Suicide by Emile
Durkheim
• Émile Durkheim's book Le Suicide, published in 1897, was the first to give a sociological
analysis of suicide. He gave the conclusion that suicide might have societal reasons rather
than only be due to individual temperament.

• He found out that the less likely a person is to attempt suicide, the more socially integrated
he or she is—that is, the more linked to society, holding a sense of general belonging and a
sense that life makes meaning within the social environment. People are more prone to
commit suicide when their social integration declines.

• Based on this, he classified Suicides into four types. They are: Anomic, Altruistic, Egoistic
and FatalisticSuicide.
2

ANOMIC
SUICIDE
Anomic suicide is an extreme
reaction to anomie, a sense of
alienation from society, and a
sense of not belonging as a
consequence of diminished social
cohesiveness. Anomie arises when
there is significant social,
economic, or political upheaval.
Types of Suicide
ALTRUISTIC
SUICIDE
Altruistic suicide is often the
outcome of excessive societal
control of people, such that a
person may be driven to commit
suicide for the good of a cause or
society as a whole.
EGOISTIC
SUICIDE
Egoistic suicide is a powerful
reaction carried out by persons
who are completely cut off
from society. The danger of
egoistic suicide rises when
these relationships are broken
by retirement or the loss of
family and friends.
FATALISTIC
SUICIDE
Fatalistic suicide happens when
excessive societal control is in
place, resulting in oppressive
circumstances and a denial of self
and agency. A person may choose
to die rather than continue to live
under such terrible conditions, as
in the instance of prisoner suicide.
History of Suicide in India
• The classic epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata both mention suicide. When Lord Sri Ram
died, his kingdom of Ayodhya had a suicide pandemic. Dadhichi, a sage, gave his life so that the
Gods may utilise his bones in their battle against the demons.

• The Bhagavad Gita forbids suicide for selfish motives, claiming that such a death is devoid of
"shraddha," the essential final rites.

• the Upanishads, prohibit suicide, stating that "anyone who takes his own life after death shall
inhabit the sunless lands enveloped by impenetrable darkness."

• The Vedas, on the other hand, allow suicide for religious reasons and believe that the highest
sacrifice is one's own life
Demographics of
Suicide in India >60 y
7.2%

45-59 y
• the 15–29-year-old age group had the greatest 18.6%
15-29 y
suicide rate (38 per 100,000 people) 39.2%

• The 30–44-year-old age group (34 per 100,000

population).
• The 45-59 years old age group (18 per 100,000
population)
• The over 60 year old age group (7 per 100,000)

30-44 y
35.1%
Modes of Suicide in India
Drownin
g
7.4%

Self-
E
immolation
11.2%
D
• A - Poisoning : 33.6 % C Poisonin
g
• B - Hanging : 31.5% 41%
A
• C - Self-Immolation : 9.2%
• D - Drowning : 6.1%
• E - Jumping from Buildings: 1.5% B

Hangin
g
38.5%

As per National Crime Record Beareau's 2010 Report

 Motives for Suicide
in India 25

Top 10 Causes 20

• Family problems (23.7 percent),

15
• illness (21 percent),
• unemployment (1.9 percent),
• love affairs (2.9 percent), 10

• drug abuse/addiction (2.3 percent)

• failure in examination (1.6 percent) 5

• bankruptcy (2.5 percent)

• poverty (2.3 percent) 0
• dowry dispute (2.3 percent)

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Critical Analysis and Conclusion

• The significance of early discovery and proper treatment of a basic mental disease cannot
be overstated. Because the existence of a past suicide attempt is the strongest predictor of
completed suicide, interventions targeting towards suicide attempters may be the most
successful in lowering suicide rates.

• Another option is to identify and treat vulnerable groups with risk factors for suicide early
in their lives. Given the substantial association between traumatic childhood experiences,
such as sexual/physical abuse and parental domestic violence, and the risk of suicide, it is
critical to identify populations who have been exposed to traumatic childhood experiences.

• The introduction of social programmes such as child and family assistance programmes, as
well as programmes aiming at attaining gender and socio-economic equality, may be
beneficial at the community level
Thank You