Recently suicide rate has been surged up in India insanely. Suicide is the act of taking one’s life willingly. Suicidal behavior, suicidal thoughts and suicidal ideation are considered. Indian has been facing a suicidal crisis for years. In 2017, the world health organization has given data where India alone contributed to 17% of the total suicidal cases in the world. Suicide is alarming and aptly India has been announced as the “suicidal-capital” in Asia. The most concerning part is that 35% of the total suicide burden is stood by young adults and adolescents (15-35 years old). The highest number of deaths due to suicide annually happens in this age group.
There is no specific reason behind suicide. Suicidal behavior or suicidal ideation can be suffered by anyone in society with different reasons. The most popular case of suicide in the present time which has shaken the whole nation is the Sushant Singh Rajput case. Notwithstanding a successful actor, a successful academic career he committed suicide. It shows whether someone is well-to-do or not well-to-do can be attacked by mental stress and that will make his life miserable. V.G. Siddhartha “the coffee king” owner of CCD took his life despite a successful business.
In past decade farmers were on stake to commit suicide, everyday news-paper was inundated by the news of suicidal cases. It was a myth that people who are ‘uneducated’, ‘financially weak’, or people who failed somewhere in their lives are tend to commit suicide. Current time says different story since the act of suicide is not a one fine day thing; but human mind is more complex it is difficult to know when and what makes a person vulnerable to take such action. They reach to a zenith where they do not see anything, do not think of anything, they start feeling the sense of hopelessness, helplessness and worthlessness which make them to feel the life they are living is no worthier.
An interesting note is that every stage in life the human consciousness, with an inborn instinct to live, tries to defend the individual, and she/he can just look around for right opportunities to share their dilemma or distress she/he going through. At this stage, persons to suspect the death intent or wish should counter with supervision, informing the primary care-givers and, most importantly, seeking psychiatric help. Whether it’s a passive death wish (“I wish I could die”), active death wish (“Things will be better to deal with, if I die today”), suicidal wish (visualizing one’s death, the idea of killing oneself), suicidal intent (active plans or scenarios to carry out suicidal act), suicidal attempt (person acts finally taking one’s life by any means) need to get supervision.
It is unfortunate that major barriers to seeking help for suicidal thoughts, suicidal ideation are lack of audience, guilt and dilemma. In the national suicide prevention strategies of NMHP (National mental health policy) the important concept “gatekeeper training” is used. That literal meaning is irrespective of the profession, if someone suspects the intention of a person to cause a form of self-harm, it must be aggressively prevented and brought to the notice of the health care system and family.
There are certain signs and symptoms people need to look for keeping themselves away from dreadful step: If someone has mental illness like depression or anxiety, history of domestic violence, history of previous suicide attempts, isolated or divorced, any form of trauma, abuse or major loss to self-identity, respect or finances, access to dangerous means for example ropes, water bodies, firearms, poison, having a wish to end one’s life, social withdrawal from friends, family members, impulsive or reckless behavior.
There are various effective psychological, pharmacological and social methods of taking care of suicidal patients. Many suicide helplines are existing around and metal disorders take putting someone at a risk of suicide can be treated. The WHO has provided a brilliant standard of practices forming the suicide prevention strategies, which is vital to be implement enormously. Understanding of people about suicide has increased, which helped to keep suicide or suicidal act out of criminal offense. But any strategy or practice would be able to help people only after early screening and detection of such people at risk and taking them to the health care system.
It is necessary to estimate what toll it has been taking on young lives. We need to look at this alarming issue through the ‘social lens”. People need to be aware that they are not alone. They have all the opportunities to access any sort of help for their mental health or suicidal thought or ideation. Suicide survivors continue suffering from anxiety, depression and significant guilt in their remaining lives. So, they need to contact for help and keep themselves engaged in activities, surrounded by people or loved ones. People like celebrities, successful people are opening about their own depression or suffering stories, so we need to break stigma this time. To fight this most preventable cause of death needs all classes of people must consider it their collectively responsibility, which is alarming the greatest threat to the health of our nation.
