THE GIST of Editorial for UPSC Exams : 27 JULY 2019 (The crime of silence around the country’s suicide epidemic (Live Mint))
The crime of silence around the country’s suicide epidemic (Live Mint)
Mains Paper 2 : Health
Prelims level : Talk therapy
Mains level : Reason behind rise of suicide epidemic
Context
- Every 40 seconds, someone somewhere in the world takes his or her own life.
- Imagine if it was not someone somewhere in the world. Instead, it is a family member, a friend, a colleague, a neighbour, or a person we know, who is perhaps thinking of taking their life. The crisis would then look different.
Highlights of the WHO’s data
- According to the World Health Organization (WHO), for every 100,000 women, about 16 women take their own lives.
- By the data available, India’s suicide rate for women is the sixth highest in the world. About a decade ago, a bulk of young female deaths in the country were attributed to child-bearing and related causes.
- Today, suicide is the leading cause of death among young women. We lose about 25 men for every 100,000 men to suicide.
- Suicide is the second biggest cause of death, especially amongst younger men, exceeded only by death due to traffic accidents.
- The Lancet series, the last such extensive study on suicides in India, placed the death toll of suicide in 2010 at 187,000.
Background
- Suicide is a complex phenomenon, and can be precipitated by a range of inter-related factors laced with a sense of hopelessness.
- The two mental ill health conditions most often associated with suicide are alcoholism and depression. Amongst the young, the commonest causes seem related to academic performance, and a “let down" in romance.
- Other factors stem from opportunity deficits and disadvantages determined by caste, economic and other forms of social inequity, political ideology, domestic violence, bullying, harassment and chronic diseases, among others.
- Global studies also show that a great number of suicides occur in countries with a rapid pace of development, such as India and China.
- What is evident is that it has taken on epidemic proportions, especially in our country.
- Each case leaves behind a close network of other human beings whose lives will never be the same again.
- Yet, there is a deafening silence around suicide, beyond the very few that get discussed in the media.
Risk factor
- Several studies have indicated that there are multiple risk factors associated with suicide, and these may vary with gender, age, physical and mental well-being, and individual experiences.
- Treatments and therapies, therefore, vary as well. Psychosocial interventions have been found to be beneficial for individuals who have attempted suicide.
- It has been observed that these interventions have dissuaded several individuals from making another attempt
Talk Therapy
- Psychotherapy or Talk Therapy is one such type of psychosocial intervention that can effectively reduce suicide risk.
- This can help people learn new ways of dealing with stressful experiences through training;
- To help individuals recognize their own thought patterns and consider alternative actions when thoughts of suicide arise;
- To reduce the rate of suicide among people with borderline personality disorder, a serious mental illness characterized by unstable moods, relationships, self-image, and behaviourWay ahead
- Decision makers and policies must ensure reduced access to means that promote thoughts of suicide.
- In order to address the immense need for viable mental health care services, there is also a need to develop scalable and evidence-based models of care across the country through collaborations and partnerships.
- These models, once endorsed by the government, can be replicated across India.
- The Maharashtra government’s partnership with Tata Trusts on mental health initiatives in Nagpur is one such example.
- Each and every individual can make a difference, and all it takes is one little step to reach out to someone who is in need.
Conclusion
- It is important to listen and connect and seek professional help whenever there is a need for it.
- One little gesture may, perhaps, save a family member, a friend, or someone we know.
- This one little gesture can help end this crime of silence that lurks in
our midst.
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General Studies Pre. Cum Mains Study Materials
Prelims Questions:
Q.1) With reference to the Dracaena cambodiana, consider the following
statements:
1. It is a recently discovered dragon tree species in Goa.
2. It is for the first time that a dragon tree species has been reported from
India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 2 only
C. Both
D. None