Sikkim Integrated Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Strategy, 2025–2030
Background on mental health and suicides in Sikkim
In 2023, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reported a total of 1,71,418 deaths by suicide. Sikkim had the highest rate of suicide of 40.2 (number of suicides per 1 lakh population) in comparison to the national suicide rate of 12.3 per 1 lakh population. Sikkim has consistently reported the highest suicide rates since 2008 among all states in India, though this rate may also be attributed to the state’s small population, among other factors. The state also has a high prevalence of mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder, eating disorders, as well as substance use disorders.
Sikkim INSPIRES
Sikkim INSPIRES (Integrated Service Provision and Innovation for Reviving Economies) is a flagship initiative of the Government of Sikkim, supported by the World Bank, which aims to promote economic inclusion opportunities for women and youth. Through different activities under their Program Development Objective (PDO) of enhanced delivery of enabling services for the economic inclusion of women and youth, the Sikkim INSPIRES program seeks to enhance access to quality mental health services to address barriers to employment.
The Government of Sikkim, through Sikkim INSPIRES and in collaboration with CMHLP undertook a series of scoping activities and multi-stake holder consultations to
- identify priority areas within Sikkim’s mental health landscape and
- develop a roadmap for mental health and suicide prevention in the state
A multi-pronged approach was adopted to understand the current context of youth mental health and suicides in Sikkim and to develop a state-specific mental health and suicide prevention strategy. The methodology comprised (1) formative scoping interviews and field visits; (2) multi-stakeholder consultations; (3) online qualitative survey; and (4) a Theory of Change (ToC) workshop with key government and non-government stakeholders to identify priority areas and strategies for addressing mental health and suicide prevention in Sikkim’s context.
The Sikkim Integrated Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Strategy, 2025–2030 draws on the priority areas, systemic gaps, and strategic recommendations identified through the consultative processes described above. The vision of the strategy is to promote the prosperity, mental health, and well-being of the people of Sikkim, and to prevent mental health problems and suicide. This will be accomplished by providing inclusive, accessible, affordable, good-quality mental health and social care through a recovery-oriented, rights-based, intersectoral approach informed by principles of social justice, tailored to the needs of Sikkim’s diverse population.
The Sikkim Integrated Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Strategy, 2025–2030 draws on the priority areas, systemic gaps, and strategic recommendations identified through the consultative processes described above. The vision of the strategy is to promote the prosperity, mental health, and well-being of the people of Sikkim, and to prevent mental health problems and suicide. This will be accomplished by providing inclusive, accessible, affordable, good-quality mental health and social care through a recovery-oriented, rights-based, intersectoral approach informed by principles of social justice, tailored to the needs of Sikkim’s diverse population.
The Sikkim Integrated Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Strategy, 2025 – 2030 was launched by the Government of Sikkim on the 16th of May 2025, in commemoration of Sikkim’s 50th Statehood Day.
Government of Sikkim
World Bank
Sikkim INSPIRES
