"To anyone out there who's hurting – it's not a sign of weakness to ask for help. It's a sign of strength." I recalled these wise words of Barack Obama, the former President of the US, as I finished reading the distressing news of a teenager in Class VIII jumping to death from a building in Hyderabad on January 17, 2022. Ending one's life is a colossal irreversible step, driven by helplessness and despair that leaves behind a trail of regret and inconsolable grief in the families and communities.
In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) categorised suicide as the fourth most frequent cause of death in 15-29-year-olds, in both advanced and emergent nations. My quest to understand the rising trend in teen suicide began with the question: what is driving teenagers and young adults to die by suicide?
Savera Rasul, the Counsellor and Program Associate at UTSAH, a child rights organisation in Assam, explains, "Erik Erikson, an ego psychologist, had theorised the eight stages of development, wherein he mentions that during adolescence, the main focus is on identity versus role confusion. At this age, adolescents form an identity. Young adults form an opinion about themselves. The rapid changes which occur during adolescence instil confusion and insecurities about their future, ranging from attending school, meeting regular friends, attending or not attending college, going abroad for higher studies, losing out on college or campus life, among other things."
Manjuri Bharali Saikia, a psychologist and the Executive Director of Upekkha Foundation, a non-profit organisation in Assam, shares, "The main reason for the increase in the rate of suicide among young adults and children is the unstructured and non-compartmental lifestyle. A lack of time management and low emotional quotient triggers a decline in family time, increased dependence on electronic gadgets for social media interactions or gaming, and the inability to express oneself appropriately under stressful situations."
The WHO recognises suicide as a global public health concern. Each member nation of WHO has pledged to the WHO Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2030. The signatories have committed to reducing the incidences of suicide by one-third by 2030. Irrespective of nationality, stress augments suicide. So, my next question is, is stress always detrimental, and can we measure our stress levels?
Dr Rima Dey, ex-scientist and a personality coach who conducts stress management workshops, shares, "Stress is both good and bad. Our bodies are designed to withstand stress. Hence, good stress, also known as eustress, pushes us to stretch the limits of our comfort zone and helps us perform to our highest potential. However, it is important to recognise the tipping point, post which stress makes us unproductive and unhealthy. Also, this tipping point varies from person to person based on their experience, beliefs, and cultural upbringing."
"Although there are no absolute methods yet to quantify stress, one can take the help of a questionnaire developed in 1983, called the Perceived Stress Scale, which remains to be the most popular stress test till date. People can also use a blood test for ascertaining the levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, as one of the biological yardsticks for measuring stress," says Dr Rima Dey.
The news of the teenager abruptly ending his life made me ponder: could his parents, teachers, friends, and acquaintances have identified tell-tale signs to make a timely intervention?
Parul Agarwal, counsellor and founder of Listening Light, explains, "People contemplating suicide do not actively want to die. They want to end the pain they are experiencing and see ending their lives as the only option. They often want to be heard, understood, and not feel judged." Parul spells out various tell-tale signs such as mood swings, fatigue, disturbed sleep patterns, sudden loss or weight gain, staying aloof, chronically falling ill, feelings of worthlessness, guilt, loneliness, frequently crying, daydreaming, and the lack of clarity of thought. Additionally, a person contemplating suicide tries to give away valuables and draws up their will.
Suicide leaves behind a family and a community wondering – could we have prevented it? Savera Rasul explains, "Firstly and most importantly, educational institutes and workplaces should have qualified counsellors to encourage confidential interaction with children and young adults to identify red flags. They must have focussed group discussions periodically, along with peer mentoring to encourage identification of red flags and seek help. Additionally, family and student counselling could strengthen the overall development of a child."
Parul Agarwal also rationalises, "Encouraging conversations around mental health in our everyday environment and hosting mental health awareness programmes is crucial, so that if someone is going through a hard time at home or work, they can always reach out for support." Furthermore, "Conducting stress management workshops will help students and professionals to come up with their self-help techniques, routines, and rituals to overcome stress," explains Dr Rima Dey.
Although, we commemorate World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10 every year, in the words of Jonathan Frecceri, an Adjunct Faculty Member at the University of San Francisco, "Suicide is a layered, complex issue. It's not simple and we all need to work together." Hence, we need to encourage discussion on mental health, create a safe space for expressing vulnerabilities, practice compassion and empathy in our everyday conversations in order to prevent suicide and help our nations meet the commitment of the WHO Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2030.
Prominent counselling and mental health intervention centres in Assam:
1. MIND India: +91-8876043151, 03612667269
2. Upekkha Foundation, Northeast India: +91- 8638429539
3. Prerona Pratibandhi Sishu Bikash Kendra, Jorhat: 03762361386
4. Arunit, Dibrugarh: +91- 9678002540
5. Mrinaljyoti, Duliajan: +91- 9954485197
6. Ashwas Mental Health: +91-8822154828
7. Iscah Wellness: +91-9957962080
8. Shishu Sarothi: +91-6000625669, +91-9707149810
