GROWING SUICIDE ATTEMPTS IN INDIA

GROWING SUICIDE ATTEMPTS IN INDIA

Cognitive constriction is often described as a feeling of tunnel vision, as if you’re seeing through a straw or wearing blinders. People in this state can’t see beyond their circumstances, and don’t believe their pain will ever end. That’s why we often hear suicide attempt survivors say, “I thought that was the only way out”. Ever thought what pushes them to the edge and leaves their minds completely ravaged until this seems the only way to end all the traumas, the depressions, the slow consuming fears and ultimately the little life that was given to them?

According to the statistics, 135,000 people die by suicide in India with especially higher rates in the southern and eastern states. If Indian states were countries, three states would have the third, fourth and fifth worst rates of female suicide in the world. Although suicide is a deeply personal act, suicidal behavior is determined by a number of individual as well as social factors. The main causes for suicide in India have been marriage settlement issues, dowry issues, family problems, illness, problems in schools such as ragging, failure in examinations etc.  Like everywhere else in the world suicide attempts in India have also been progressively increasing. While doing my research on this particular topic, I came across headlines all over the internet, “One suicide attempt every three seconds”, “Every hour one student commits suicide in India” and as a fellow national nothing made my heart drop more than this. This is the alarming cry of the hour.

As a person slowly succumbs to depression, the person finds in oneself the inability to express strong negative feelings, feeling distant from others which results in a tendency to withdraw oneself from friends and family members. This is when you know my friend that you are walking your way into your path of abyss from where there’s no guaranteed return.  During these times it is important to keep in mind that the most effective way to relieve yourself from this stress is to share your troubles with anyone you feel comfortable. The time is ripe and for mental health professionals and psychiatrists to adopt proactive and leadership roles in suicide prevention and save the lives of thousands of Indian on the verge of ending themselves.