The curious case of 'alarming suicides'

Each year we read reports of people who commit suicide due to myriad reasons. Suicide rates are quite alarming especially among teenagers and the depressed who don’t know what to do about the situation they are going through. A recent example is that of an Indian actor who committed suicide (“Sushant Singh Rajput’s death makes Deepika Padukone highlight the importance of reaching out to fight depression, June 15, Gulf Today).

So, it is imperative for society to understand why so many people are depressed nowadays and what triggers them to take such drastic steps.  What’s more shocking is that even youngsters these days are depressed while some of them get into substance abuse. It sends shivers down my spine to realise that our society is ill-equipped to help such people.

The cost of living is high and with our daily expenses rising, we notice that when one problem gets resolved another problem creeps in.  All this puts a lot of pressure on individuals and I feel our lifestyle and scourge of competition around could be a strong reason for depression.

Lack of money is also one of the main factors which lead people into depression, apart from family problems, work problems, etc.  People who have low self-esteem, who are consistently pessimistic, or who are readily overwhelmed by stress are also in the danger zone. Physical changes in the body can also trigger mental health problems such as depression.

Depressed people need help. Sometimes we might not understand what the other person is going through and why they indulge in suicidal activities. A supportive family member or friend can often make a big difference.

Government organisations should also reach out to those in desperate need of help. They should take steps to provide people with depression with practical help. Family members and friends should assist by inquiring into their wellbeing and finding out how they are doing.

But all that requires time, patience, love, and empathy. And the question is who has the time? Sadly, with social interaction hit badly, now that everyone is practicing social distancing, we might see more cases of depression. Let’s try to reach out, if we can, to someone who is going through a hard time.

Mathew Litty  — By email