Representational image from file
Pakistan: Gilgit-Baltistan region contributes 90 percent suicide cases
Quetta, Pakistan: Pakistan's Gilgit-Baltistan region is contributing up to 90 percent of suicide cases across the country, media reports said on Saturday.
The government has formulated a new strategy to find a solution to the problem.
A notification has been issued by the Gilgit-Baltistan Secretariat dated June 2 with the subject of suicide cases in Gilgit-Baltistan and its prevention and protective strategies, The News International reported.
Documents present with The News note that a weekly socio-psychological counselling session shall be held in each school and college of GB. Guidelines, discussion points and counselling activity material shall be shared shortly with all stakeholders.
“All commissioners, deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners shall build teams with the active assistance provided by the counterparts in Health Department (directors Health, DHOs, Dy DHOs, MSs of government hospitals and paramedical staff), DG Schools, director colleges, directors schools education, technical and special education, DDEs, DISs, AEOs, principals, head teachers, lecturers, teachers and Social Welfare Department," according to the document.
"Besides, Civil Society Organizations and activists shall be co-opted on the teams to implement the strategy," the document read.
Further, a calendar of activities shall be devised by all the commissioners for their respective divisions and the secretary health in coordination with the DG Schools, the director colleges and health department psychiatrists to conduct a monthly screening process of all students for mental health issues.
Apart from this, the inspector general of police shall issue directions to the field formations that each and every reported case of suicide shall be thoroughly investigated to establish whether it's a murder or a suicide and autopsy shall be ensured in every case.
In the past five years, KPand GB had 62 per cent of suicide cases countrywide with over 90 per cent of such cases in 2019 and 2020.
It was acknowledged that most of the suicide cases in GB and KP have been occurring among the female gender over the past recent years, which are mostly happening because of forceful marriages, mismatch in relationships and educational pressures.
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