Coronavirus stress leads to spike in suicides: Expert

People are showing signs of fear, anxiety, uncertainty, feeling of insecurity, frustration and even in many cases serious illness such as depression.

As the world observes Mental Health Day today amidst the COVID-19 pandemic which has been taking a heavy toll on normal life across the spectrum, the country still lacks an effective National Suicide Prevention Plan as the suicide cases continues to rise.

It has been confirmed by the World Health Organization that 7.5 per cent of Indians, which amounts to approximately ten crore Indians, suffer from mental health issues. Anxiety and Depression form the most common mental health issues.

'India also accounts for nearly 15 per cent of the global mental, neurological and substance abuse disorder burden in the world. Also there are few than 4000 medical professionals to cater to the needed assistance in case of mental illness,' National Mental Health Programme Advisor Dr Naresh Purohit informed UNl here today.

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data on ‘Suicides in India’ for the year 2019 revealed that at least 1,39,133 people died by suicide last year across the country. The report also points out that the majority of victims were in the age group of 18-45 and educated.

'While 5,501 persons ended their lives owing to illness as many as 2,501 people took the extreme step due to career or business setbacks. Also 315 students died by suicide due to exam pressure,' he said.
Dr Purohit pointed out that consumerism, cut-throat competition, shallow human relations, negative impact of the social media and inability to cope with the unpleasant life events are the reasons behind the surge for the rising number of suicide cases amid covid pandemic.

'Human development is not all about getting scholastic degrees, getting high salary packages and acquiring wealth and property. People who get into the mad rush of multiplying their wealth, often end up feeling disappointed,' averred the renowned Disaster Psychological expert.

Dr Purohit stated that mental and substance use disorders are leading causes of disability around the world. Treatment can be effective, yet between 76% and 85% of people in low- and middle-income countries and between 35% and 50% of people in high-income countries receive no mental health care.

'Employers have long invested in mental health, and this work has accelerated during the pandemic. In several parts of the world, employee assistance programs are the only mental health services available to employees. To fill gaps in service options, employers are looking at new players in the mental health space. More work is needed in this space, and employers are leading those efforts,' the renowned physician observed.

'To relieve mental stress and disorders one has to practice healthy human relations by being kind. Kindness has the ability to strengthen human relationships, be compassionate and develop a sense of belonging and prevent the feeling of loneliness. Kindness among each other will deepen solidarity and develop healthy societies. Sharing is caring and to inculcate this habit in our children is very important because societies are soon becoming a combination of nuclear families with just the mother, father and a single child. The milestone of health societies is where people live with compassion, shared joy and happiness and live together with collective wisdom.' added Dr Purohit.