From Editorial of The Himalayan Time:

Nepalis are not known for their sui generis nature of suicidal tendencies: Their joie de vivre in their typically difficult lives are punctuated by festivals — one of the highest in the world — with lusty song-and-dance encounters on the bazaar greens, "mela" milieus, elopements, "mit" relationships, social and religious calendars pregnant with celebrations and show-offs. Life is governed by inhospitable landscapes which the Nepalis have etched for ages and eke out their livelihood from. Only hardy and patient people know how to make up for their tenuous existence in a country of high altitudes and their inherent attitudes with seasonal funs and frolics. These abound at all the topographical tiers where various castes and ethnic groups live. These virtues have made Nepal the land of smiles, hospitable and friendly people amidst their wants and deprivation.However, the smiles are fading away. Friendly people are forcibly estranged by divided loyalty between the government and the Maoists which has driven away non-partisan people, especially the youth, out of their country.

The typically inhospitable land has become further intolerable of other Nepali visitors' presence because of fear psychosis. One of the most recurrent expression of the people, even in urban Kathmandu, is the English word, "tension." Tension in the family, tension in relationship, tension at work and in office, tension in the streets and community, tension among the leadership and the political parties, tension between the state and the terrorists — the word has crept into every sphere of the Nepali psyche, lingo and outlook.

This new national angst has a model in Nuwakot district, barely thirty air miles to the north of the capital Kathmandu. Locale of King Prithvi Narayan Shah's eastern durbar at one time and home of many prominent and learned caste and ethnic politicians, Nuwakot is believed to have witnessed a marked rise in suicides in recent times. Most of the suicidees are manic-depressive victims owing to strained family relationships. Some 60 persons — the majority being women between 20-35 years and men between 25-40 years — killed themselves by taking poison and hanging so far this year. Elderly persons, too, end their lives due to torture from junior family members.

Though the caste and tribal classifications of the suicides are not readily available, maybe Nuwakot's ethnic community is comparatively better off because of its female export to Indian brothels. However, the new suicides don't reflect the old traits when young men and girls killed themselves because of their failure in love or the SLC examinations. The new fatalistic trends denote a general unrest of impermanence, turmoil, displacement, deprivation, separation and disruption of old and stable values and systems all over Nepal. Nuwakot conveys a distinct message: There are many Nuwakots in Nepal now!

Great article. As a society, we haven't paid much attention to our minds perhaps because we are so caught up in the daily rituals of living and are yet to collectively reach that level in Maslows heirachy where we step back and think about our minds - its mysteries and its wonders. The collective psyche of the Nepali nation is still very much oriented towards physiological needs.

On the question of suicides, I have been very intrigued by this phenomenon. I am trying to read Jungian and other psychology , modern psychiatry and any other explanation I can get my hands on in trying to understand the forces, thoughts, factors, and bio-medical states etc that a person goes though or is exposed to before ending his own life. Any thoughts or experience shared by people who have tried to explore this concept before me will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

PS: I recommend the C.G Jung page at http://www.cgjungpage.org/ for beginers like me.