Suicide is an illegal way of ending your own life to preassembly escape from pain and suffering. Globally, eight hundred thousand (8 lakhs) people die from suicide in a year. The suicide rate of men is twice than of women. The ratio is even higher in some countries according to World Health Oranization report.
454 people committed suicide in three years
People commit suicide every year which comes down to one person every 40 seconds. It is the second major cause of death among the youths of 15-29 years. A total of 79% of suicides have occurred in low- and middle-income countries. It is predicted that by the end of 2020 the rate of death will increase to one every 20 seconds. Nepal currently ranks 81th in the world with 8.8 deaths per 100,000 (WHO 2016). During this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there is another Pandemic which is not getting enough notice – the suicide pandemic. Datas show more than 1,200 people have committed suicide in the last 3 months of lockdown in Nepal. Other than that, many people have lost their jobs, businesses have shut, domestic violence has increased, and many are going through economic struggles all around the world. People are overburdened to pay their bills or rent, groceries, school fees, medicines, taxes, etc. despite some of them not earning a penny. Given all the situation, we can only assume suicidal rates will remain high for the rest of this year.
Unstable mental health remains the major reason behind rising suicide rates globally. A person goes through several problems and circumstances in the journey of life. Problems could arise from misunderstanding and conflict in the family, loneliness, lack of mental peace and satisfaction, massive criticism, failure in relationship, low performance in study, uncertain career, and poor economic condition. On the other hand, social media remains another catalyst to increasing suicide around this world where glamour and luxury are prioritized over happiness and compassion. People comparing their lives with ostentatious flashes of smiles and luxury with others without knowing the real story behind the scene is only adding fuel to the fire. This increased insecurity would ultimately push them to pursue a fake perfection that ultimately destroys their peace of life and mental health. These situations could lead to a feeling of hopelessness, worthlessness, and meaninglessness to lead their life ahead. They feel insecure about their future, society, and the existing problems. In the process of ending those personal problems, eventually, they end their lives in the form of suicide.
As far as mental health counseling is concerned, there is a growing urgency to have more psychotherapists in hospitals and health clinics. They will not only understand issues related to people’s anxiety, depression, and mental illness but will also read, analyze, and help to soothe the pain. We can’t fully predict anyone’s inner mental condition by reading their face and expressions. We have seen celebrities like Yama Buddha, American singer and songwriter Chris Cornell, Bollywood famous actor Sushant Singh Rajput, and many more who committed suicide despite having all the materialistic luxury, successful career, and fame. Deep inside all were going through depression and people around them just believed and admired their luxurious life, smiles, and happy postures in social media. After their demise, it became all unpredictable and unbelievable.
Another major problem we notice in our society is the lack of acceptance and stigmatization of depression. This raises fear in people struggling with depression of being judged and bullied by those with whom they share their problems. Therefore, in Nepal we still see people hiding their mental health issues and rather prefer not to speak with anybody about their issues. This is devastating since the conversation is an extremely important therapy for people with mental health issues. Thus, it’s important to accept people the way they are rather than criticizing, making fun of them and their problems. One of the biggest misconceptions about depression is one is supposed to look sad and worried, if they are depressed. It is a deep-rooted misconception that exists in the Nepali society and many parts of the world. Several incidents have shown that normal and happy looking faces could still be depressed and could be suffering inside tremendously.
To overcome their ongoing mental health difficulties people should talk about their feelings with their loved ones. Along with this regular exercise and meditation are important to be healthy, boost self-esteem, and increase the power of concentration. Similarly, healthy diets and proper sleep is equally necessary.
