madurai data available with the madurai rural police has revealed that the number of suicides in 2013 has alarming increased when compared to those in the last two years according to the data compiled by the district rural police as many as 470 people in rural areas had committed suicide in the last six months alone comparatively the number of suicidal deaths in its preceding two yeas is comparatively lesser the number of suicides was only 504 in 2011 whereas in 2012 the number has slightly increased and stood at 529 reveals the data overall men constitute the majority in the suicidal deaths among the 470 suicidal deaths in 2013 a whopping 303 were men compared to 167 women district police say that familyrelated problems are stated to be the main cause behind the deaths apart from family problems mental distress is another common problem behind the suicides reacting to the alarming increasing in suicidal deaths in the rural areas of madurai v balakrishnan superintendent of police madurai district who had decided to conduct a mass awareness programme organised an awareness rally in various rural parts of the districts on wednesday the rallies involving students were conducted simultaneously in k pudhur thiruparankundram thirumangalam usilampatti samayanallur oomachikulam and peraiyur blocks associating with madurai institute of social science district mental health scheme and m s chellamuthu trust speaking to the students at an orientation programme conducted in the rural police office at the end of the rally balakrishnan insisted that suicide is not the option to escape from the problems before taking any extreme decision one should consume some time and revise their decision problems are not permanent as there would be a change in the situation soon he said adding that parents should also be given orientation to keep a close watch on their wards and prevent them from extreme decisions d janet professor of madurai institute of social science and a professional counsellor against suicides said selfimmolation is the most preferred choice among women whereas poison consumption is preferred by men compared to women men involving in suicidal deaths are high in the district unlike women men do not like to share their problems with others which lead to mounting mental stress ultimately leading to death suicide among students is prevalent since they are not taught to handle the failure situations high expectations from the students force them to take the wrong decisions she added apart from family disputes and mental distress the other reasons behind most of the suicidal deaths are extramarital relationship and problems created by loan sharks in slum areas she also said