SHREYA KEDIA
Mental health problems have assumed menacing proportions in India. Given that suicide is linked to the mental state of a person and the suicide rate in the country is alarmingly high, the focus of Governments and non-Government organisations on addressing the mental health problem, should be more than it presently is.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau, 15 suicides took place every hour in India during 2014. Indeed, suicide has become one of the leading causes of deaths.
Suicide is a deliberate act by one who wishes to end his or her life. However, it can be averted with timely intervention. According to the World Health Organisation, the standardised suicide rate in India is 16.4 per 100,000 for women (sixth highest in the world) and 25.8 for men (22nd the world over). On an average, in India, the suicide rate among males is double than that among females.
But what should make one sit up and take notice is a recent report compiled by experts, which says the number of women who attempt suicide in the country is three times than that of men. And, people in the age-group of 15-30 are the most vulnerable.
There’s a thin line between life and death. If one fails in one’s attempt to reach the world of nothingness, the distance is just about half an inch. With globalisation, it has become increasingly important to keep pace with a fast-moving world, and it is in this endeavour that stress has become an inseparable part of many human lives. Depression, mental anxiety, financial issues, personality disorders, work tension, relationship woes, dowry harassment etc, are some of the leading causes of suicide.
The reasons why women attempt suicide are complex. But mental illness, depression and stress are some of the common problems. The attempt to suicide is also associated with socio-cultural reasons. Unfruitful marriages where a woman is forced to live with her in-laws, constantly abused, tormented by dowry demands, are some of the issues that increase the risk of suicide among women.
Also, there is a difference in the methods chosen by men and women to end their lives. While men opt for deadly strategies, women go for ‘softer’ ones. The most common form of suicide among women is poison, self-immolation, hanging, jumping off the roof, on the railway tracks etc.
A lot also depends on how a woman overcomes stress. It is seen that she generally resorts to crying, but that, unfortunately, does not necessarily lead to a reduction of tension from within or a dependable safety valve. It is important to identify suicidal tendencies of a person. It is noticed that women, in the absence of an outlet to vent out frustration, are generally overcome by a feeling to do something drastic – commit suicide. As the situation gets difficult, what is required is professional help to divert one’s thoughts. The person must not be left alone.
More than anything else, it is important to gauge suicidal tendencies. Often matters are not taken seriously. According to a September study done by the Delhi-based Cosmos Institute of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences, 71 per cent of people are not even aware as to what they must do when someone around them displays suicidal tendencies.
The Indian Psychiatric Society has stated that only 10 per cent to 15 per cent of suicidal bids are “impulsive” (a person attempting suicide on the spur of the moment). In the other cases, a person exhibits suicidal tendencies which can be prevented through third-party timely intervention and proper psycho-social therapy.
Combined efforts to stop people from resorting to suicide can help save lives. People must sense suicidal instincts at the right time. More societies like the Indian Psychiatric Society, which create awareness about causes and prevention of suicides and are equipped with experienced counsellors, must be formed.
In a much-needed move, the Mental Health Care Bill, 2013, passed by the Rajya Sabha in August this year, will go a long way to de-criminalise suicide cases and strengthen the mental healthcare system in the country. The Bill seeks a legal framework by exempting punishment for a person who attempts suicide. Instead, it shall be presumed that the victim has been suffering from mental illness and is need of medical and psychiatric care.
Sensing suicidal tendencies, early recognition among the vulnerable, providing them with support, counselling by experts on time, and emotional support, are some of the measures that can help prevent this lethal killer. Suicide is a public health problem, not the act of a few weak-kneed individuals. It calls for a humane approach.
(The writer is a journalist with an interest in social issues.)