People & Their Problems

New Delhi, 2 September 2011

Increasing Suicides

DIRE NEED FOR COUNSELLING

By Dhurjati Mukherjee

Suicides have increased in most parts of the world and India is no exception. According to estimates, a many as 1.2 lakh people commit suicides every year in India and over four lakh attempt it. A majority of then have been found to be suffering from some sort of mental disorder. Such shocking figures have forced the Union Health Ministry to consider a special suicide prevention programme that would counsel and protect depressed patients. Sadly, nothing tangible has yet come out so far.

According to latest reports released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), suicides rose by 1.7 per cent compared to 2008. Bengal topped the list with 14,648 cases followed by Andhra Pradesh (14,500), Tamil Nadu (14,424), Maharashtra (14,300) and Karnataka (12,195). These five States accounted for over 55 per cent of total suicides. Among the metro cities, Bangalore topped the recorded the highest suicide rate with 2167 people killing themselves in 2009 followed by Chennai (1417), Delhi (1215) and Mumbai (1051).

Further the report found that on a day-to-day basis, 73 Indians commit suicides daily because of health problems and related economic issues. Eight Indians commit suicide due to poverty, nine related to bankruptcy and seven because of unemployment. The number of suicides unemployment and career problems showed a relatively higher increase of 18.1 and 15.1 respectively. However family problems and illness accounted for 44.7 per cent of all suicides in the country.

As society is progressing and becoming modern, such incidences have been on the rise, specially among the young generation. The reasons for such increase have been the subject of many surveys and investigations of sociologists and psychologists, who attribute it these to the induction of materialist culture in society. To the common man, it would logically appear that with spread of education and knowledge as also prosperity and better living standards, suicides should at least not increase, if not come down over a period of time.

The changing society and with it the value system has clearly had an adverse effect on the young generation. The indirect effects of the change are the yearning to do or get something which may not be achievable and in the process become frustrated. Added to this are family problems, employment and/or career problems, the low levels of tolerance and patience in the human individual, which was earlier quite high in religious-oriented societies. The NCRB report pointed out: “It is observed that social and economic causes have led most of the males to commit suicides whereas emotional and personal problems have mainly driven women to end their lives”.  Whatever may be the reasons, which are of course quite varied and difficult to comprehend, it is a fact that such a trend is quite unhealthy for our society.     

Coming to children, another survey revealed that West Bengal tops the number of teenager suicides. In 2008, no less than 516 teenagers committed suicide in the State. According to experts, the symptoms of suicide cannot be specifically identified, but insomnia and withdrawal, which result in the child not socializing can be regarded as important one. Chances of suicide are high in the early stages of depression amongst children and also adolescents.   

It is indeed distressing to note that the growing incidence of suicides and attempted suicides among the educated have become a public and mental health problem all over the country. India is leading the world in suicides where around 350 suicides take place every day on an average. It is indeed a matter of great concern that the suicide rate has been steadily increasing in spite of both social end economic improvement in the country.    

The major metros of the country such as Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi have witnessed a significant increase in suicide deaths as also suicide attempts. The increasing stress in a materialistic society has obviously contributed to extreme frustration and the decision to end one’s life. Unemployment, career frustration, marital disharmony, family problems, chronic illness, drug addiction etc. may be considered other major factors.  

Surveys in the western countries have revealed that depression amongst the youth is the main cause for suicidal tendencies. In India too, we have witnessed an increasing suicidal tendency among students because of either failure in examinations or an uncertain future. Besides, there is a high increase in suicide rates over love affairs and/or pre-marital sex which are mostly manifest in the metropolises. A modern society has complicated life and brought with it related problems, which result in a craving to get what one wants without realizing its social consequences.     

A fall-out of these trends is depression, an off shoot of hypertension, which has been identified as the fourth largest health problem by the WHO. In India, depression is widespread as 15 per cent of men and 20 per cent of women suffer from the disorder. By 2020 or even earlier, it is likely to rank second after heart diseases. This has been the finding of a study, published in Lancet which has further revealed that depression has more impact on the physical health of those who suffer from it than chronic diseases like diabetes, arthritis, and epilepsy.     

The complexity of the disease, which manifests itself in feelings of intense sadness, worthlessness, pessimism and reduced emotional well-being, stems from the fact that a number of brain areas are affected by it.  In cases of prolonged depression, it has resulted in increasing suicides (and, of course, divorces and separation) which can easily be attributed to psychological problems influenced by tension in office, family and social and even community life.

The failures to achieve targets in office and not being considered for quick promotion (by superseding other colleagues), to get to the top by hook or by crook, to win contracts (even after bribing), in love affairs and win over the opposite sex as bed partners have all resulted in terrible stress and tension. In turn, this has had an adverse effect on children, who do not find their parents in the house after office hours (obviously attending late night parties), and behaving abnormally and frequently quarrelling or fighting. Even the ideal home environment has been lost as all actions of individuals are linked to material gain or loss.

While the decline of social and moral values has become a major factor in the erosion of happiness in human life and society and increase in suicides, this has been accentuated by an increasing and unachievable target and the quest to earn much more. Jealousy and hatred has increased due to severe competition in all fields and the thirst for more and more. These developments, not compatible with social standards have truly messed up healthy relationships and taken away happiness.---INFA

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)