Abstract

Suicide is a major and growing public health issue that leads to health care expenditures, loss of productivity, morbidity and premature death. The thought of attempting suicide itself is an indication that the mental health of the individual is threatened and suicide also affects the wellbeing of the individuals who share a close emotional bond with those who commit suicide. As per WHO, every year around 7 lakhs people commit suicide worldwide and the number of suicide attempts decreases substantially after the age of 26 years. As per the National Crime Records Bureau report (2020), 153052 people died by committing suicide in India. Loss of life due to suicide is a loss to the Nation in terms of economic output, innovations, social changes and reforms. Suicide can be prevented. Understanding the causes and consequences of suicide from multiple perspectives is important. Suicide from the bio-neurological perspective will be helpful in preparing measures to prevent suicide among people by looking at the internal biological alterations and thereby interfering within the internal environment of people to help them not to choose suicide as the ultimate option. Prevention of suicide by ensuring the mental health of people is a joint responsibility of the individuals associated with the persons attempting suicide and as well as of the state. Considering the increase in suicide particularly among youths as well as in people from all the generations in recent years, the present paper entitled “The Biology of Suicide” emphasizes on a comprehensive understanding of suicide by analysing and describing the problem from biological perspectives and understanding the preventive measures of suicide by applying a public health approach to suicide prevention.