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Failing systems…
The
increasing economic turmoil, political unrest, social upheaval, communal
disharmony and widening gap between the haves and have nots
have added another dimension to the problem of suicides. In these situations,
serious losses or threats of loss of property, loved ones, job, pride, honour, status, independence and support systems operate
in a major way to push an individual to a state of despair and dejection.
These tenets question the fundamental survival of human beings in their
respective societies based on existence, ideologies and strategies. The
recent crop failures in India, the civil war in Sri Lanka, economic turmoil in Thailand and economic and political
upheaval in Indonesia are some indicators of
sociopolitical instability in SEAR Member Countries. Solutions to these
problems need to focus on equitable distribution of resources and
socioeconomic reforms.
 Nearly 1000 farmers from the three southern
states of India,
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra have committed suicide in the
last three years.
The economic and political unrest in Indonesia
in 1997 and 1998 left many without jobs and income. Failure to rehabilitate
people in such situations by the concerned authorities may have led to many
acts of suicide.
The changing social situation in SEAR has
thrown new problems and challenges. The emerging "empty nest
syndrome" in all countries (children moving away from parents),
"latch-key children syndrome" (parents leaving children alone due
to their working status) has also been identified as a major factor for
suicide. With the aged, terminally ill, or isolated individuals having no one
to take care of them and offer emotional support, the situation has become
more difficult. At the other extreme, the economic need for both parents to
work coupled with educational pressures has contributed to the increasing
social and health problems among children and adolescents.
An
added problem in SEAR Member Countries is the easy availability of poisonous
substances such as organophosphorus compounds. Various pesticides,
herbicides, rodenticides and similar poisonous
drugs are manufactured in large quantities, advertised extensively and are
available freely. A total ban on these products is impossible, as agriculture
is the major occupation in these countries. Unregulated distribution and
sales have been major factors for suicide in SEAR Member Countries.
Did you know…
The
village of Gunung Kidul in Indonesia has very high suicide rate. The
spiritual leaders in the area predict the arrival of pulung
gangtung (fire ball), which can only be seen by
them. The occurrence of suicide after this is considered to be a call from a
supernatural power. In reality, the increased rate of suicide in this village
is mostly related to the presence of severe illness among the elderly.
Did you know…
In
Sri Lanka, 90% of suicides are committed
by Buddhists, who form 70% of the population. Beliefs in reincarnation, a
better life in the next birth, and the belief that "life is full of
suffering and nothing including life, is permanent", need clarification.
When one believes that all that there is to life is merely suffering, and
that when one dies there is another birth, suicide cannot be far away.
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Religion
and culture…
Another dimension to this process are the
religious and cultural aspects of suicide emanating from strongly held
beliefs and value systems. This association in some individuals is
propelled more by tolerance, acceptance and respect. The notion that a
person has reached his heavenly abode, is closer to God, has complied with
the wishes of elders, joined the family in heaven, taken the destined way
of leaving earth, followed a self-created path of life can only be
explained by religious, spiritual and earthly modes of causality. The
increasing realization that "precious, valuable, human lives should
not be lost as emphasized in religious texts" should form the focus
for future preventive measures.
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Yogeeta
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From India…
Professor
M, aged 68 years and Ms V, aged 60 years, committed suicide by consuming
barbiturates. They had two children, settled abroad. Professor M lost his right
leg in a road accident four years back and was a known diabetic on regular
treatment. Ms V was diagnosed to have hypertension and also had joint pains
in both legs. Since the last two years, both had extreme difficulty in
managing their lives without any support. They left a note for their children
wishing them success and happiness.
From India…
Ms
R came from a poor family and was married to a casual labourer.
Her husband, a chronic alcoholic, spent all his money on his drinking habit.
He used tophysically abuse his wife whenever she
asked him to take care of the family. She had to borrow money regularly from
relatives and friends. Two years after marriage, she gave birth to a female
child. Things became difficult as her husband wanted a baby boy. His irresponsible
behaviour made her life miserable. One day she left
the child in an orphanage (giving a false reason) and committed suicide by
burning herself.
Bangladesh
A
recent study in Jheneidah revealed that torture by
family members, quarrels with relatives, extreme poverty and acute scarcity
of food, loss of agricultural land, suffering from an incurable disease and
lack of money for health care were the major causes for suicide.
Indonesia
A
recent study revealed that the majority of suicides were related to mental
health problems, disruption within the family, alcohol and drug abuse in the
lower socioeconomic groups, disrespectful attitude towards religion and poor
social integration.
Sri Lanka
The
steep increase in suicides in Sri Lanka during the last two decades is
closely related to the agricultural revolution and sociopolitical turmoil.
The easy availability of pesticides and herbicides has been a major
contributing factor; these were used in nearly 70% of suicides. Suicide rates
have been reduced in certain villages by regulating the sale of pesticides.
Aindrila Dey
Biochemical
imbalance…
Though
much attention is focused on the cultural, social and economic aspects of
suicides, changes in the brain also contribute in several ways. Adverse
socioeconomic conditions create biochemical imbalances by themselves or some
psychiatric conditions in turn produce these imbalances, thereby
precipitating suicidal behaviour. Some of the known
mental health problems such, as depression, alcoholism and other substance
abuse problems, schizophrenia, and affective disorders, cause biochemical
imbalances by themselves. It is believed by some that suicidal behaviour runs as a distinct feature and requires
triggering by disorders or adverse psychosocial factors. The biochemical
basis of suicide endorses the fact that the decline of certain
neurotransmitters in the brain is a major reason .
Ongoing research worldwide in this direction is likely to throw more light on
the understanding of suicides.
Some
mental health problems carry a high risk of suicide during the course of the
illness. Biochemical imbalances in the brain of such individuals alter their
rational thinking and judgement, contributing
significantly to the occurrence of suicide. Depression is one of the commonest
conditions leading to suicide. The risk of suicide among persons who are
depressed varies from 40-60% across countries in the Region. Depression
occurring alone or as a co-morbid event of other illnesses or interacting in
a socially difficult situation is a known and established risk factor for
suicide. Alcoholism is known to be distinctly associated with suicides,
especially when drinking starts at an early age. Alcoholism, depression and
suicide are known to result in a vicious circle. Abuse of alcohol among men
is often linked to suicide among spouses. The lifetime risk of suicide with
disorders such as alcoholism, schizophrenia and personality disorders is
estimated to be 6-15%, 7-15% and 20-30%, respectively. Drug abusers are also
more prone to suicide. About 20-30% of reported suicides among drug abusers
occur following abstinence or during rehabilitation. The risk increases
further when persons with these disorders are untreated or inappropriately
managed, have a long history of illness and recurrent relapses. The course of
these illnesses also leads to significant socioeconomic problems. A past
history of suicidal attempt or family history of suicide is known to carry an
additional risk of 5-10%.
From Sri Lanka…
The
commuters in a bus plying from Kalutara to Colombo were amazed to see their bus
conductor jumping off the bus at Kalutara bridge
into the river. Rescueefforts failed and the
conductor died. At the inquest, his mother said there was no reason for her
son to commit suicide. According to her, her son had been complaining of
chronic fatigue for some time. Medical examination had not revealed any
illness. Nobody suspected that he was suffering from undetected and untreated
depression.
Did you know…
Depression, alcohol dependence and stress prevailing
within families are the leading causes of suicide in Sri
Lanka. Immediate abuse and stress arising
within the family, low economic status, gender bias, and chronic physical
illness emerged as other major factors. For various reasons, the suicidal culture
among youth has been gaining momentum from year to year. The ”suicide squads”
of Sri Lanka
are a known political and social entity
Family conflict, chronic illness, financial
debts and marital disharmony were the major causes for suicide in India
according to a recent study from Bangalore.
Further, nearly 27% of men were alcohol dependent and 84% of them used
alcohol to mix other substances; 10% of individuals were found to be
suffering from a known mental disorder prior to the act of suicide, with only
10% of them being on treatment (90% of the mental disorders were undetected).
Nearly one-third had given clues about their impending act.
The emergence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Thailand
has led to many suicidal thoughts and action. Suicide risk is especially high
at the time the person learns he/she has AIDS, or as physical health
deteriorates and medical treatment remains out of reach. The situation is
likely to worsen in the Region due to this uncontrolled epidemic.
Pressures of examination and high expectations
from parents of the children to excel in studies, is in some cases taking the
extreme path of suicide amongst adolescents.
Economic adversity, both at high levels such
as business failures, and at low levels such as crop failures, can lead to
suicide.
Thus,
suicide is influenced by ecological and environmental characteristics, the
social fabric, individual predispositions and current circumstances. The
causes for suicide are multifactorial, interlinked,
cumulative, often repetitive and progressive over a period of time (acute or
chronic), pushing an individual through stages of helplessness, hopelessness
and worthlessness. The impact of these factors often stands on the pedestal
of values, traditions and support systems for the individual.
Depression is
predictable, detectable and treatable, while suicides are preventable.
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Digital Creativity
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The sudden, unexpected (sometimes expected) death of a person has
profound and lasting effects on all spheres of life for the individual,
family and society. There have been several instances of immediate family
members committing/attempting suicide after witnessing a suicide within the
family. Such a situation, keeping in mind the considerable stigma
associated with suicide, may affect the healthy growth of a child, a
marriage, employment opportunities, and social interactions within the
family. For a person who has attempted suicide, the problem is not only
immediate recovery but giving reasons and explanations to those around him.
The risk of such persons repeating or completing the act in their lifetime
varies between 1 and 10%. To avoid social trauma, many people change houses
and even educational institutions and jobs. The severe psychological trauma
after an act leaves the person confused and with the question "what
next? "
"... see, she left me. But now how do I take care of my
children, family and elderly parents? If only she had told me…"
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A husband
The
sudden loss of a precious life has different meanings for people in terms of
social, psychological, economic and caring roles of the person. It is said
that "suicide is the skeleton left by the deceased in the survivors’
closet". To witness a death can be traumatic, confusing, dangerous and
frightening for a young child. Adolescents, newly-married women and elderly
individuals feel the loss, particularly, because death takes away the pillar
of their family. In our traditional societies, for members of the family, the
mourning period is filled with guilt, shame, anxiety and stigma. Legal and
investigative procedures, which result in unanswerable questions, add insult
to injury.
Suicide
by a person affects friends, acquaintances, employers, loved ones and the
society differently. Some families and friends keep the suicide notes or
letters for the rest of their lives, feeling close to the person they loved
and cared for. While the socioeconomic loss (life cannot be measured in
monetary terms alone) is not known clearly for any country, it is estimated
that about 2.5% of the total economic burden due to disease is contributed by
suicides
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