Over 100,000 people die by suicide in India each year. This editorial examines the association of suicide & mental disorders. In India, attempted suicide continues to be a punishable offense, resulting in imprecise & inadequate data as well as inappropriate treatment for people with mental illness. Less than 10% of people who die by suicide had ever accessed mental health care. The author concludes the editorial by stating suicide is a preventable outcome in mental illness. Its prevention will require concerted action by all health professionals. (18 refs.)