18 Suicides a Day: Nepal’s Overlooked Public Health Crisis

Nepal is grappling with a severe and often overlooked public health crisis: suicide. An estimated 18 people die by suicide daily, with the total number of deaths reaching 6,866 in the last fiscal year, a slight decrease from the previous year that was nonetheless reported as good news. The article highlights the case of Ganesh Nepali, a 25-year-old ride-hailing driver who died by self-immolation, sparking debate about accountability among various government bodies.

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By police count, about 18 a day. Last fiscal year, 6,866 Nepalis died by suicide.

However, the author emphasizes a more pervasive question: how many others reach similar points of despair without public attention? A stark finding from a 2008/09 study revealed that suicide was the leading cause of death for women of reproductive age in Nepal, surpassing even childbirth or road accidents. Alarmingly, a fifth of these deaths were girls under 18. Researchers have found no reason to believe this grim picture has improved, and the fact that the study has not been repeated in over a decade is itself a scandal.

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The last time Nepal seriously studied why women of reproductive age die, suicide emerged as the single leading cause. Not childbirth. Not road accidents. Suicide.

Working with women and children, the author notes that suicide is rarely an isolated problem. It is deeply intertwined with domestic violence, early marriage, debt, and the social isolation experienced by young wives. The research and anecdotal evidence suggest that young married women are among the most at-risk groups in the country, a reality that should reshape how society views both suicide and marriage.

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That study is from 2008/09, and researchers who have reviewed the evidence since have found no reason to believe the picture has improved.

Adding to the crisis, the official statistics are almost certainly an undercount. Families often have strong reasons to conceal suicides due to the enduring stigma, which historically led to shame and punishment. Communities may opt for quieter explanations for deaths, particularly for women. While the Ministry of Health has launched a National Mental Health Campaign and a free suicide prevention helpline (1166) exists, these efforts face the challenge of overcoming deep-seated stigma. The existence of a national strategy on paper is acknowledged, but its effective implementation at the ground level remains a critical concern.

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The research says what our case files say: it travels with domestic violence, with early marriage, with debt, with the particular loneliness of a young wife in a house where she has no allies.