------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre Ph:2252660 Website: www.goadesc.org Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Press Clippings on the web: http://www.goadesc.org/mem/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------- Suicide:13th leading cause of death world over --------------------------------------------------------------------
Recorded data points that about one million people kill themselves because of several social, medical and psychiatric problems world over while in India about 1,00,000 people, most of them in the range of 20 to 40 years, commit suicide every year.
An estimated 8,15,000 people died from suicide world over last year, making it the 13th leading cause of death all over the globe, says a city-based NGO, Prerna, quoting statistics released by World Health Organisation
Among countries reporting suicide, the highest suicide rates are found in eastern European countries and the lowest are found mostly in Latin America, in Muslim countries and in a few Asian countries.
"The recent trend of suicides among students, however, is a cause of special concern,;; according to Dr Amresh Shrivastava, director, Prerana, an organisation dedicated to suicide prevention and mental health promotion.
Alarmed by the suicide rate, WHO and the International Association of Suicide Prevention has decided to dedicate September 10 as suicide prevention day, Dr Shrivastava said.
According to studies, factors such as poverty, unemployment, loss of loved ones, arguments with family or friends, breakdown in relationships and legal or work-related problems are acknowledged as risk factors affecting those who are predisposed or otherwise vulnerable to self harm.
In addition to the number of suicide deaths several more persons make non-fatal attempts to take their lives or harm theselves. Furthermore, for every suicide death, there are many more survivors whose lives are profoundly affected emotionally, socially and economically, the studies said.
A family history of suicide is a recognised risk factor with both social and genetic co-relations. Other pre-disposing factors include alcohol and drug abuse, a history of physical or sexual abuse in childhood and social isolation.
Psychiatric problems such as depression and other mood disorders, schrizophrenia and a general sense of hopelessness also plays a central role. Physical illness and access to weapons or poisons to kill oneself also form important factors for the fatal attempt.
However, those who have a high self esteem, a social connectedness especially with family and friends, social support, a happy marriage and commitment to religion are found to suffer less from suicidal tendencies.
Suicide could be prevented through early identification and appropriate treatment of these conditions. Educating primary health care personnel in identification and treatment of people with mood disorders may effectively also result in a reduction of suicide rates. Interventions based on the principle of connectedness and easy availability of help also provide encouraging reports.
Relationships approaches, psychosocial interventions, suicide prevention centres and school-based interventions are strategies that have some positive indications.
Restricting access to the means of suicide has also helped in bringing down the rate of such deths. Some countries like Australia, Canada and the United States, which have put restrictions on ownership of fireams, have been associated with decrease in their use for suicide.
Evidence also suggest that the effect of media reporting of suicides depends largely on the way an event is reported and the language and tone and whether they are accompanied by graphics or other material.
In 1999, the WHO had launched a global initiative for the prevention of suicide which called for bringing down the frequency of suicidal behaviour with emphasis on developing countries and countries in socio-economic transitions.
According to studies, major investments are needed for research and for prevention efforts. While short term efforts contribute to an understanding of why suicide occurs and what can be done to prevent it, longitudinal research studies are necessary to fully understand the role of biological, psycho-social and environmental factors in suicide.
More research should be conducted to examine the relative contribution of psychological and biological factors in suicidal behaviours. A greater coupling of two types of factors in research programmes should be allowed for major advances in the current knowledge of suicide.
There also should be more focus on subgroups of the population based on age. Brain imaging is another area that calls for more research effort. More research on the role of hostility, aggression and impulsivity in suicidal behaviour also needs to be focussed on, the studies mention. -------------------------------------------- The Navhind Times 8/9/03 page 1 --------------------------------------------
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