PROVIDE HOPE TO THOSE STRUGGLING

Globally, suicide is receiving increased attention, and numerous countries are implementing national prevention initiatives. The burden of the crisis is primarily felt by emerging nations, whose suicide rates vary greatly from country to country. Male suicide victims outnumber female victims by a large margin. In many countries, the suicide rate among the elderly has declined, but it has gone up among young people. Rates vary according to an individual’s occupation, employment status, and ethnic background. Comorbidity is fairly common, and the majority of suicide victims have mental illnesses, including mood, substance use, anxiety, psychotic, and personality disorders. India has the highest rate of suicide deaths worldwide, according to The Lancet. The journal said that the suicide rate among Indian girls and women remains to be twice as high as the global average in an update from early this year. When compared to other causes of death, suicide accounts for the majority of deaths in the 15- to 39-year-old age range. It also showed that self-immolation, drug overdose, pesticide poisoning, and hanging are the most popular suicide methods. Numerous social and cultural elements appear to raise the risk of suicide, in addition to depression and alcohol use disorders as risk factors, it was discovered. According to a report, some of the main obstacles to the nation’s effective suicide prevention include the lack of a National Suicide Prevention Strategy, inappropriate media coverage, legal ambiguities regarding whether or not suicide is punishable, and a lack of multi-sectoral engagement. In order to navigate situations where a person can be vulnerable to and at risk of suicide, interventions that are given at the proper time, intensity, and duration are helpful in reducing suicide rates. Outline research and data priorities and offer suggestions that emphasize multiple action priorities for preventing suicide across various sectors.

There is an urgent demand for immediate action in India by integrating suicide prevention measures at all public health levels, with a particular emphasis on the completion and execution of the national suicide prevention strategy, according to the review. A National Suicide Prevention Strategy, the first of its kind in the nation, was announced by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This marked the Centre’s awakening and the beginning of its efforts to address a problem that had permeated all aspects of Indian society. It included multi-sectoral partnerships and time-bound action plans to reduce suicide mortality by 10% by 2030. Last but not least, the report acknowledged that suicide in the nation is a much bigger problem that requires urgent intervention. It recommended that effective suicide surveillance mechanisms be established, psychiatry OPD be established, and integration of mental health curriculum in all educational institutions. It also calls for creating standards for ethical media coverage of suicides and limiting access to suicide tools. On a large base of young people, the suicide rate climbed from 10.2 to 11.3 per 1 lakh people in the last three years. According to the survey, a person’s economic and professional position also has an impact on suicide rates. The highest percentage of suicides, 63.3%, happened among people who make less than Rs 1 lakh a year, followed by 32% among people who make between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 5 lakh a year. In 2020, 3.8% of suicides were committed by people who made between Rs 5 and Rs 10 lakh per year, and 1% of suicides were committed by people who made more than Rs 10 lakh. According to the survey, 65% of suicide instances occurred in people between the ages of 18 and 45. As always, acknowledging a problem before trying to fix it is the first step. Without focused intervention programmes and stigma reduction initiatives, experts warn that a massive public health crisis is just around the corner. According to WHO estimates, suicide is the second most common cause of death worldwide for people aged 15 to 29 as well as for females aged 15 to 19. Because of this, emphasis has been placed on the early detection and treatment of mental illness. Because hidden psychological illness is the primary cause of suicide, according to specialists.

The stigma around mental illness is still quite strong, and we still have difficulty diagnosing it. The strategy has put itself on the route of achieving its objectives by addressing issues that are pertinent to India, such as access to pesticides and alcoholism. However, the Government must continue in this direction until the objectives are met. Additionally, make sure that all of the States and Union Territories adopt the Strategy in its entirety.