There is a lot of conversation around the concept of suicide in our society. The overall institution of mental health is not openly talked about in many regions of India. One may say that the prolonged ignorance of deterioration mental health could result in suicide. This Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, SMBT takes a closer look into the status of suicide in India.
“But he was so happy, why did he do it?”
“She was always the life of the party. Makes you wonder why she would make this decision.”
“He had everything, why would he kill himself?”
The most common question that people have is, “why?” The simplest answer to this question is the popular saying, “Everything is not what it seems.” One can never be sure about what really goes on in someone else’s mind. But of course, there are reasons that are more explanatory. This blog is meant to focus solely on abolishing the stigma around mental health, but to achieve that we must first understand the institution of mental health and answer the ‘why’ question, scientifically.
In the medical field, suicide is linked with depression. In our society, symptoms of depression are often mistaken for laziness or disinterest in things. In theory, these are real symptoms, but they are not excuses for one’s incompetence. Patients suffering from depression are physically unable to bring hope, happiness or basic interest in their lives. There is an extensive amount of research being conducted about the physical tell-all signs of the illness. The most common diagnosis of depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain, but there seems to be a lot more to it. Studies show a difference in brain structure, glitches in the functioning of neurotransmitters and more. This helps us better understand how mental illnesses can physically affect its victim. Mental illnesses are not always triggered by external life events, they can also, like many physical illnesses, be hereditary.
From the information above, we can successfully answer the ‘why’ surrounding suicide. An individual’s financial or family status does not determine what is going on in their mind and their brain activity. y We can also understand that suicide isn’t a conscious choice or as most say, ‘the easy way out’. Mental illnesses that are left untreated for a long period of time drive their victims to take such harsh measures. It is often said that they aren’t looking to end their life, they’re just looking to end the pain within them. The impact depression has on the brain causes physical pain to the patient’s body. A kind of pain that painkillers are often not enough to numb. This is where patients develop habits of substance and drug abuse.
Now that we fully understand why someone would resort to something as severe as suicide to get away from their mental illness, leaving behind their seemingly well to do lives and families, let us look at a few demograpic statistics in India to better understand what leads individuals to take this decision in the Indian society. 800,000 people succumb to suicide worldwide, yearly. Out of which 17%, i.e. 135,000 are Indian residents. The top five reasons for suicide are marriage-related issues. Research shows that there are twice as many male suicide cases than that of females. In fact, until two years ago, suicide was considered a criminal offence! What do we understand from these statistics? There seems to be a hidden conversation about the ideology of toxic masculinity. Men in Indian societies are not allowed to be expressive about their feelings and emotions. Any emotion that isn’t stable or a composed demeanour is considered a sign of weakness. This prohibits men and to an extent many women in India to openly communicate their mental health issues, in fear of being shamed by their families and peers. This promotes prolonged untreated mental illnesses that lead to extreme measures of taking one’s own life.
The most important takeaways from this blog are that firstly, mental illnesses are not excuses to be lazy or lethargic and must be treated like one would with any physical ailment. Suicide can be defined as the result of prolonged, untreated mental illness. Our society has a long way to go with accepting the expression of human emotion regardless of the age, gender, occupation, or any other factors. The stigma around suicide can only be eliminated when we, as a society, abolish the stereotype of voicing feelings being a sign of weakness. Once we allow open conversation about mental health without judgement, individuals who may be going through something will have the confidence to talk about it and ask for help, before it’s too late.
For more informative blogs, stay in tune with SMBT Group of institutions at www.smbt.edu.in!
“But he was so happy, why did he do it?”
“She was always the life of the party. Makes you wonder why she would make this decision.”
“He had everything, why would he kill himself?”
The most common question that people have is, “why?” The simplest answer to this question is the popular saying, “Everything is not what it seems.” One can never be sure about what really goes on in someone else’s mind. But of course, there are reasons that are more explanatory. This blog is meant to focus solely on abolishing the stigma around mental health, but to achieve that we must first understand the institution of mental health and answer the ‘why’ question, scientifically.
In the medical field, suicide is linked with depression. In our society, symptoms of depression are often mistaken for laziness or disinterest in things. In theory, these are real symptoms, but they are not excuses for one’s incompetence. Patients suffering from depression are physically unable to bring hope, happiness or basic interest in their lives. There is an extensive amount of research being conducted about the physical tell-all signs of the illness. The most common diagnosis of depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain, but there seems to be a lot more to it. Studies show a difference in brain structure, glitches in the functioning of neurotransmitters and more. This helps us better understand how mental illnesses can physically affect its victim. Mental illnesses are not always triggered by external life events, they can also, like many physical illnesses, be hereditary.
From the information above, we can successfully answer the ‘why’ surrounding suicide. An individual’s financial or family status does not determine what is going on in their mind and their brain activity. y We can also understand that suicide isn’t a conscious choice or as most say, ‘the easy way out’. Mental illnesses that are left untreated for a long period of time drive their victims to take such harsh measures. It is often said that they aren’t looking to end their life, they’re just looking to end the pain within them. The impact depression has on the brain causes physical pain to the patient’s body. A kind of pain that painkillers are often not enough to numb. This is where patients develop habits of substance and drug abuse.
Now that we fully understand why someone would resort to something as severe as suicide to get away from their mental illness, leaving behind their seemingly well to do lives and families, let us look at a few demograpic statistics in India to better understand what leads individuals to take this decision in the Indian society. 800,000 people succumb to suicide worldwide, yearly. Out of which 17%, i.e. 135,000 are Indian residents. The top five reasons for suicide are marriage-related issues. Research shows that there are twice as many male suicide cases than that of females. In fact, until two years ago, suicide was considered a criminal offence! What do we understand from these statistics? There seems to be a hidden conversation about the ideology of toxic masculinity. Men in Indian societies are not allowed to be expressive about their feelings and emotions. Any emotion that isn’t stable or a composed demeanour is considered a sign of weakness. This prohibits men and to an extent many women in India to openly communicate their mental health issues, in fear of being shamed by their families and peers. This promotes prolonged untreated mental illnesses that lead to extreme measures of taking one’s own life.
The most important takeaways from this blog are that firstly, mental illnesses are not excuses to be lazy or lethargic and must be treated like one would with any physical ailment. Suicide can be defined as the result of prolonged, untreated mental illness. Our society has a long way to go with accepting the expression of human emotion regardless of the age, gender, occupation, or any other factors. The stigma around suicide can only be eliminated when we, as a society, abolish the stereotype of voicing feelings being a sign of weakness. Once we allow open conversation about mental health without judgement, individuals who may be going through something will have the confidence to talk about it and ask for help, before it’s too late.
For more informative blogs, stay in tune with SMBT Group of institutions at www.smbt.edu.in!
