IEP Chandigarh, September 9
“Every year nearly 7 lakh people take their own life and there are many more people who attempt suicide. Suicide occurs throughout the lifespan and was the fourth leading cause of death among 15–29 year olds globally in 2019. Nearly 14% of the world’s adolescents experience mental health problems.”
On the eve of World Suicide Prevention Day while stating this, Dr. Vibha Goel, psychiatrist at IVY Hospital, Mohali said that suicide is a tragedy affecting families, communities and has long-lasting effects on the people left behind a parallel can be drawn between an untreated mental disorder and the risk of suicide.
She further said , “ It can happen impulsively in moments of crisis, or in situations a person is experiencing conflict, disaster, violence, and abuse. A callous, unemotional, insensitive attitude of the society directed towards the suffers is concerning and understanding the myths associated with depression and suicide are of utmost concern.”
One of the most heard of myth is that a mental health condition is a sign of weakness. If the person were stronger, they would not have this condition. To the contrary anyone whosever can develop a mental health condition, she informed.
However, the issues are usually left untreated as they are assumed to be a part of mood swings caused by hormonal fluctuations and a continuous desire to seek attention.
Dr Vibha said that the faulty adjectives and the derogatory remarks used by the family members and other members of the society towards mental health problems leads to increased reluctance in the sufferers to disclose as it might cause social distancing.
It is of fundamental necessity to curb the stigma, abuse and neglect associated with mental illnesses. Anyone, whosoever at whatever position in life can suffer from any form of psychiatric illness, she maintained.
It is okay to not be okay and also it is okay to reach out and seek help, she said adding pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy are both the recommended modalities of treatment and the pharmacological treatment directed towards psychiatric illnesses is to restore the balance between the neuro-chemicals.
