Suicide can't be the answer to stress and depression

The death of rising Hindi filmstar Sushant Singh Rajput has fuelled a fresh discussion about mental health in India and suicide as a leading cause of death for young Indians.

The mental health issues are estimated to affect 15 crore Indians, less than a fifth - 3 crore - are seeking the care of one form or another.

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According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 1,34,516 people committed suicide in the year 2018.

And there are various reasons behind these suicides from academic pressure to money, relationship, abuse and violence. But what unifies most of the suicide cases is stress and depression.

And neither stress nor depression is new to India. Stress has been an integral part of Indians' life and Indians' natural ability to cope with it was once a matter of pride.

But in recent years, mental health has become a troubling issue for India. At least 1 in 20 Indians today has a history of depression and 15% of Indians suffer from a mental health issue.

Suicides, especially by the young Indians are a growing concern.

The NCRB data shows that 10,159 students died by suicide in 2018, an increase from 9,905 in 2017, and 9,478 in 2016.

Poverty due to failed agrarian system is also one of the major reasons behind suicides in India.

According to the NCRB, 10,349 persons involved in farming sector (consisting of 5,763 farmers or cultivators and 4,586 agricultural labourers) committed suicides during 2018, accounting for 7.7% of total suicides victims.

“Out of 5,763 farmer or cultivator suicides, 5,457 were male and 306 were female during 2018. Out of 4,586 suicides committed by agricultural labourers during 2018, 4,071 were male and 515 were female, the report stated.

According to one study, at least 82% of Indians are suffering from stress because of work, health or finances. India has the highest suicide rate in South East Asia. At least 338 Indians have killed themselves during the coronavirus lockdown.

Numerous individuals experiencing stress and depression have communicated that it was so hard to discuss mental health issues in India, because of an absence of comprehension about it and the taboos surrounding the topic.

There is a need to end the stigma attached to mental health. India must make mental healthcare more accessible and affordable.

When the problem is stress or depression, the answer can never be suicide and not the glorification of it.

Clinical specialists, nonetheless, state that suicide is a genuine medical issue, however, is preventable with opportune, proof-based mediations.

(With inputs from agencies)