Every hour one student commits suicide in India, with about 28 such suicides reported every day, according to data compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). The NCRB data shows that 10,159 students died by suicide in 2018, an increase from 9,905 in 2017, and 9,478 in 2016. — The Hindu
In 2016 the number of suicides in India had increased to 230,314. Suicide was the most common cause of death in both the age groups of 15–29 years and 15–39 years. About 800,000 people die by suicide worldwide every year, of these 135,000 (17%) are residents of India, a nation with 17.5% of the world population.
According to WHO data, the age-standardized suicide rate in India is 16.4 per 100,000 for women (6th highest in the world) and 25.8 for men (ranking 22nd).-Wikipedia ( Suicide in India)
Suicide leading cause for over 300 lockdown deaths in India, says study
Suicide was the leading cause for over 300 “non-coronavirus deaths” reported in India due to distress triggered by the nationwide lockdown, revealed a new set of data compiled by a group of researchers. — The Economic Times 05 May 2020
Suicide has become a social evil and needs to be prevented, if not eradicated completely from a depressed mental state. Suicide is a major mental health problem. Most suicides are related to psychiatric disease, depression, substance use disorders, and psychosis is the most relevant risk factors. However, anxiety, personality, eating, and trauma-related disorders, as well as organic mental disorders, also contribute.
Suicide and suicide attempts can have lasting effects on individuals, their social networks, and communities. The causes of suicide are many, and it is important to understand the psychological processes that underlie suicidal thoughts and the factors that can lead to feelings of hopelessness or despair. In recognition of this ongoing Suicide Prevention week, this article emphasizes and brings out the significance of “Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention”.
What is Mental Health?
Mental health is an integral and essential component of health. Mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. The WHO constitution states: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” An important implication of this definition is that mental health is more than just the absence of mental disorders or disabilities. Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community. Mental health is fundamental to our collective and individual ability as humans to think, emote, interact with each other, earn a living, and enjoy life. On this basis, the promotion, protection, and restoration of mental health can be regarded as a vital concern of individuals, communities, and societies throughout the world.
Mental health and physical health are closely connected. Mental health plays a major role in people’s ability to maintain good physical health. Mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety, affect people’s ability to participate in health-promoting behaviors. In turn, problems with physical health, such as chronic diseases, can have a serious impact on mental health and decrease a person’s ability to participate in treatment and recovery.
Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including:
· Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry
· Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse
· Family history of mental health problems
People can experience different types of mental health problems. These problems can affect your thinking, mood, and behavior. The most common mental health disorders include:
· Anxiety Disorders
· Behavioral Disorders
· Eating Disorders
· Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders
· Mood Disorders
· Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
· Personality Disorders
· Psychotic Disorders
· Suicidal Behavior
· Trauma and Stress-Related Disorders
Suicidal Behaviour and Risk factors:
We have understood how disruption of mental health can affect a person. Suicidal behavior is one such disorder that is by the large result of mental health deterioration. People with a diagnosed mental health problem have been found to be at a higher risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior. Though suicidal behaviours are complex, there is no single explanation of why people die by suicide. Social, psychological, and cultural factors can all interact to affect the state of mental health and then to lead a person to suicidal thoughts or behaviour. For many people, an attempt may occur after a long period of suicidal thoughts or feelings, while in other cases, it may be more impulsive.
Several Risk factors commonly act together to increase vulnerability to suicidal behaviour. The World Health Organisation has classified these into the different groups below:
Societal
- difficulties accessing or receiving care
- access to means of suicide
- inappropriate media reporting
- the stigma associated with mental health, substance abuse, or suicidal behaviour which prevents people from seeking help
Community
- poverty
- experiences of trauma or abuse
- experiences of disaster, war, or conflict
- experiences of discrimination
Relationships
- isolation and lack of social support
- relationship breakdown
- loss or conflict
Individual
- previous suicide attempts
- self-harm behaviour
- mental ill-health
- drug and alcohol misuse
- financial loss
- chronic pain
- family history of suicide
Protective factors
Protective factors are those that can help to reduce vulnerability to suicidal behaviour. The consideration of how best to support and enhance people’s access to protective factors is an important part of preventing suicide.
Suicide prevention:
Suicide prevention is a collection of efforts to reduce the risk of suicide. These efforts may occur at the individual, relationship, community, and society level. A whole-system approach is needed for suicide prevention to address the above-mentioned risk and protective factors for suicide. Local government, primary care, health and criminal justice services, voluntary organizations and local people affected by suicide all have a role to play. Suicide prevention can also be part of larger projects that address the wider determinants of health and wellbeing.
Firstly, increasing mental health awareness can reduce suicide in Society. Mental health is a major concern worldwide and India is not far behind in sharing this. Dr. Brock Chisholm, the first Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), in 1954, had presciently declared that “without mental health, there can be no true physical health.”
Mens sana in corpore sano is a Latin phrase, usually translated as “a healthy mind in a healthy body”. By encouraging a healthy lifestyle we can create healthy minds and finally prevent suicides. A continuous effort and initiative from the government as well as private counselors and therapists are available to promote mental health awareness and minimize suicidal attempts.
Secondly, there are treatments/ therapies available:
· Psychotherapy, or talking therapies: This type of treatment takes a psychological approach to treating mental illness. Psychiatrists, psychologists, psychotherapists, and some primary care physicians carry out this type of treatment. Their Help-line telephone numbers are also available.
· Medication: Some people take prescribed medications, such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anxiolytic drugs.
· Self-help: A person coping with mental health difficulties will usually need to make changes to their lifestyle to facilitate wellness. Such changes might include reducing alcohol intake, sleeping more, and eating a balanced, nutritious diet. People may need to take time away from work or resolve issues with personal relationships that may be causing damage to their mental health.
Conclusion:
We can all prevent suicide. Understanding the issues concerning suicide and mental health is an important way to take part in suicide prevention, help others in crisis, and change the conversation around suicide. Each of us can help by paying attention to the well-being of people in our community such as friends, colleagues, and indeed anyone who you may be worried about. A simple ‘how are you’ can open the conversation. Listening and being open and understanding can help those at risk by letting them know it is okay for them to share. The isolation often felt by those experiencing suicidal thoughts or recovering from a suicide attempt can be reinforced by judgment or stigma in which their behavior is viewed as manipulative or selfish. Showing care and respect for the people behind the behavior can help people to share their feelings and access the support they need.
- Oishani Sengupta (CC Member, Ayuda NGO)
