Suicides: a clear and present danger

Hameed Ashraf | NT

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young adults worldwide. The recent numbers confirm that more and more teens are contemplating and committing suicide, unable to cope with academic stress, failure and loneliness.

The story of suicide is probably as old as that of human history. Through the ages, suicide has variously been glorified, romanticized, bemoaned and even condemned.

A recent study shows adolescents and teenagers are among the most vulnerable to depression. According to the expert psychiatrists in Bengaluru, preventive strategies implemented at a community level and identifying vulnerable individuals may be more effective than global strategies.

According to City Crime Records Bureau (CCRB), Bengaluru reported the highest number of deaths by suicide during the pandemic year of 2020. Between 2011 and 2020, a total of 19,541 suicides were reported, the highest in the past three decades. Dr Naveen Jayaram, consultant psychiatrist at Sakra World Hospital, Marathahalli, said, “One of the reasons for the alarming rise of suicide among youngsters is the feeling of being misunderstood. In most cases I have come across, the victims talk to their parents initially. But the parents fail to take them seriously,” he said.

According to the experts, if the parents acknowledge the problem and discuss it, suicide can be averted. “But they respond with ‘Even I faced this situation, ignore this, do this or that.’” Dr Jayaram observed.

“I met a girl suffering from depression for two years. She had developed suicidal tendencies. When I asked her why she had not sought help earlier, she told me she wasn’t even aware what depression was. She thought it was just a phase all children went through,” he added.

Shabari Bhattacharya, mental health counsellor and programme manager at Parivarthan, an NGO that works in the area of counselling, training and research told News Trail that she has seen cases where teenagers cut themselves or engage in self-harm and immediately post a picture or message about it on social media.

“There is an uptick in suicides immediately after a celebrity commits suicide. If someone is depressed and is having suicidal tendencies, hearing of someone committing the act, especially someone famous, pushes them over the edge,” Shabari said.

A city based psychiatrist (who does not want to be named) said, “Most parents are facing hectic work schedules, especially after the pandemic. Children hardly get to meet them. That is why children become loners. Even when parents and children meet, conversations circle around academic performance and what is lacking among the children.

Parents should spot warning signs

Dr GP Gururaj psychiatrist, Axxon Specialty Hospital

It’s a heart breaking moment for a lot of us when we hear someone has attempted suicide or has lost their lives to it. Keeping the ongoing pandemic aside, suicides can be attributed to multiple complex factors.

Individuals who have recurrent thoughts like ‘Everyone would be better off without me, my existence is meaningless, I do not feel like waking up and going through the daily grind, there is no hope left in my life, etc.,’ are likely to consider suicide as an option. When they do not find constructive solutions to relieve their pain, they jump to it.

Suicide is the most common cause of death between the age groups of 15 and 30. A few circumstances that push them to take the harsh decision include severe depression, traumatic stress, interpersonal problems, failed marriages, unemployment, financial issues, academic failure, and substance or alcohol addiction. When fraught in such difficult phases, it is important to accept, adapt, and surmount them.

Social Media has become such an indispensable part of our lives that it has started to dictate us. Unfortunately, several young minds are falling prey to it. They look at the ‘happy pictures and posts’ of their friends and start comparing their lives. These juxtapositions induce negative emotions and cause dissatisfaction.

Parents play a significant role in promoting good mental health and recognising the signs of distress. Love, acceptance, respect, and appreciation from them can go a long way in making them feel secure and happy.

Recent incidents:

1. Last year a PhD student at Indian Institute of Science (IISc), hailing from Kolkata, committed suicide at his room near Sadashivanagar. Police investigations revealed that the student was undergoing treatment for depression and bipolar disorder in Nimhans.

2. December 28: Venkatesh, a sales executive from JP Nagar, jumped to his death from the Electronic City elevated Expressway. Police said he was