You are Not Alone

F rom 1992 onwards September 10 is observed as world suicide prevention day by World Federation for suicide prevention. Every year a theme relevant to suicide prevention in the present context is selected as the message. World suicide prevention day message for this year is ‘create hope through action’. This encourages the common man to understand more about suicide prevention and be supportive of each other in preventing suicide. The statistics of the National Crime Records Bureau 2022 show that the suicide rate in the whole of India is 11.3 per one lakh of the population. The suicide rate in Kerala in the year 2022 is 28.8 per one lakh population. It is a fact that 10162 people have committed suicide in Kerala in a single calendar year of 2022. The suicide rate of Thiruvananthapuram, the district with the highest suicide rate in Kerala is is 44 per one lakh while Kollam with a rate of 43.1 is in second position. Suicide is a complex bio-psycho-social problem with biological, genetic psychological, social, financial and cultural dimensions. The alarming rate of suicide that has been increasing over the last decade in our society is a major concern that every individual should be bothered about suicide prevention. In the year 2012, the suicide rate in Kerala was 24.3 per one lakh. But over the last 10 years, it has increased to 28.8 per one lakh. There has been 19.7 percentage increase in the rate of suicide in Kerala compared to the year 2021 . The alarming increase in the rate of suicide in adolescents and adults shows that these people should receive special care and consideration when any action plans regarding suicide prevention are planned. Unidentified and untreated mental illnesses, chronic physical problems, family conflicts, substance use disorders and financial issues are the common causes of suicides. Along with this depression, bipolar disorder, delusional disorder, schizophrenia and substance use disorders can lead to Suicide in a major way. WHO itself has claimed that depression is the most widely prevalent and easily preventable cause of suicide world wide. But what happens is that depression is largely unidentified and untreated in our society. Only 15% of people with depression are identified and given proper treatment in India. How do we identify a person with person depression? The person having five out of the following nine symptoms prolonged for continuous two weeks may be suffering from a depressive disorder and requires medical care.

The symptoms are :

1. Continuous sadness from morning till evening for at least 2 weeks

2. Reduced interest in previously pleasurable activities

3. Unexplained tiredness

4. Sleep disturbance

5. Appetite disturbance

6. Concentration impairment

7. Slowness of thoughts and actions

8. Depressive thoughts including hopelessness,helplessness worthlessness and inappropriate guilt

9. Death wishes and suicidal ideas.

A person having at least five symptoms prolonged for two weeks the person should be referred to a mental health professional for immediate attention. The stigma surrounding mental illness is another major problem to be addressed in the context of suicide prevention. Many people used to hide mental illnesses and refuse to take proper treatment due to this social stigma. As a result, many problems which are easily treatable and completely curable do not get addressed. Because of this, things will get worse and lead to suicide sometimes. A widespread mental health literacy campaign educating the common public about mind and mental illness and its preventable factors should be undertaken at the government level as well as by non-governmental organisations. Making mental health literacy as part of the academic curriculum in schools, campaigns on mental health first aid, giving training to the general public, teachers, lawyers, and counsellors help in attaining suicide prevention goals.

Five steps to adopt on mental health first aid

•Approach that person in distress and enquire what is troubling him

•Listen to them patiently and nonjudgmentally, understanding their problem in its entirety

•Give information correcting his misconception and giving reassurance.

•Encourage professional help

•Encourage socialsupport

Life skill education should be made a mandatory part of the school curriculum so much so that the younger generation can be empowered regarding facing difficult situations and failures in life. Taught assertiveness thereby empowering them to remain away from substances and also impart necessary social Intelligence and emotional intelligence which should help them to asses any person going through a distressful state in their knowledge