It strikes the poor, the moneyed, old and young, married and the separated, successful and striving, driving them to commit what many psychiatrists claim is preventable suicide.
“Many callers tell us they feel suicidal. Some even reveal they have attempted it. From others who do not reveal such thoughts, we have to ascertain the risk factor,” said Tinky Bhardawaj, director of the non-profit Roshini Counselling Centre in the city that receives 15 to 20 calls from persons with suicidal thoughts.
Crime data on suicides for 2014 showed Telangana’s suicide rate as 26 for every lakh of State’s population and is among the highest in the country. The State recorded 9,623 suicidal deaths that year, including farmers’ suicide.
While many may not have provided direct hints to their suicidal thoughts, it is often observed that social media profiles may have given hints about such thoughts that friends and relatives missed. Reports have claimed actor popular television actor Pratyusha Banerjee shared a WhatsApp status that indicated she contemplated suicide. Ms. Banerjee was found hanging on Friday.
“Risk of suicide peaks between 36 hours and 72 hours after suicide thoughts occur,” Ms. Bharadwaj said. “People with such thoughts may be cheerful and not show signs one would associate with suicide. Hence the reaction of shock and surprise when we do not expect somebody to take their lives,” she added.
According to Dr. Sujatha Raman, consultant psychiatrist with KIMS Hospital, celebrity suicides often reveal the path to success is fraught with alienation of near and dear ones. Deaths of young actors like Ms. Banerjee and Telugu anchor K. Nirosha also showed that help is not sought.
If suicide signs in adults, which are often missed despite being recognisable, such thoughts in children are more likely to be missed if parents are not observant, psychiatrists warn.
“Children may turn irritable, refuse food and lose sleep. Some may even start bedwetting due to stress. If these signs persist for about two weeks without recognisable underlying reasons, parents should seek help,” said Global Hospital’s consultant psychiatrist Aftab Ali Khan.
Dr. Khan advised parents to build a relationship of trust with their children that would help tide stress during the fast-approaching results season. Suicides due to failure in examinations are common causes among youngsters. If a WHO report is any indication, depression symptoms and signs of suicide should be considered seriously given that India has the highest suicide rate among people aged 15 - 29 years.
“Children as young as six say they feel stressed. Clearly, the push to excel in anything they do is not conducive for well-being for children,” Dr. Raman said.
Ms. Bharadwaj further pointed out that students are among the most frequent callers to Roshini. Understanding these signs when seen will facilitate successful suicide intervention, she said.
Roshini can be reached at 040-66202000 and 040-66202001, between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m.
