The modern man is like a spider caught in his own web. The modern man’s life is that of psychological curiosity, of moral incertitude, of ruined temples and of broken cross. From morning to midnight, his life is goaded with stress and strain, having little time for respite and leisure. Obviously, the hard monotonous metallic ways of life coupled with rank consumerist culture and godless materialism compel him to the tragedy of suicide. Dr Soumya Sharmistha Mallick is currently working as Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology in Agra University. After having obtained her Honours in Psychology from the Ravenshaw University, she had her post-graduation in Sociology from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Subsequently, she had her MPhil and PhD from the same JNU. She earned her post-graduation in PMIR from the Alagappa University, Tamil Nadu besides obtaining an LLB degree from the Utkal University. She has written a book entitled “Human Rights: Challenges & Remedies” and has co-edited a book captioned “Dr. B.R. Ambedkar: A Crusader of Human Rights”. A prolific writer, this budding genius often contributes articles on human rights to various periodicals and magazines of repute.
In an interview to The Pioneer,’ Dr Mallick spoke to Sugyan Choudhury on the modern man’s tragedy of suicide, suggesting remedial measures to wipe out the evil from the society.
Could you please explain the phenomena of suicide?
Suicide is tragic. It cuts life short and devastates the family, friends and ones left behind. A study conducted by the National Institute of Health (NIH) of United States reveals that suicide is the tenth leading cause of death nationwide and it is the third leading cause of death among the adolescents. The world witnesses more than 10 lakh suicidal deaths every year. Furthermore, for each suicide, there are more than 20 suicide attempts.
What about the suicide scenario in India?
In India, 1,64,033 people died by suicide in 2021. Astonishingly, Delhi, the most populous Union Territory, reported the highest numbers of suicides of 2,840 followed by Chennai, Bengaluru and Mumbai where the figures were 2,699, 2,292 and 1,436, respectively. During the year 2021, a total of 25,891 people died by suicide in the 53 mega cities of the country. The National Crime Record Bureau’s report indicates that people living in metropolitan cities are more prone to suicide than the people who live in countryside and they commit suicide on trifling issues. Abysmally, the suicide rate is increasing leaps and bounds over the years.
Could you please explain about the different types of suicide and their causes?
Emile Durkheim, the renowned French Sociologist, who made an in-depth study on suicide in his magnum opus “Suicide: A Study in Sociology”, identifies three different types of suicide. They are egoistic suicide (stemming from the absence of social integration), altruistic suicide (individual kills self for the collective benefit of the group), anomic suicide (stemming from sudden and unexpected changes like stress and ending their lives being placed under extreme rules or high expectations).
Could you please tell which groups of our society are more prone to suicide and what are the factors responsible for the same?
Suicide affects anyone of any age, gender or background at any time. However, the report of National Crime Record Bureau in India indicates that people belonging to affluent class, labour class and married women within the age group of 25 to 45 commit suicide due to the trauma of helplessness and worthlessness. Apart from rich people, labourers and married women, large numbers of older people above the age of 60 die every year by suicide due to depression, debility and disconnectedness or loss of opportunities for social interaction. The factors which contribute to suicide inter alia include mental illness like bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder (BPD), schizophrenia, family problems, personality characteristics, drug addiction, marriage-related issues, love affairs (failure in love), bankruptcy, failure in examination, unemployment, property dispute, suspected or illicit relation, fall in social reputation, impotency, infertility, etc.
What are the symptoms with suicidal patients and what are the preventive measures according to your opinion?
Sociologists and psychologists through research have found that before suicide, the victim persons display some distinctive symptoms. They generally withdraw from friends and family and lead lonely life, feel helpless or worthless, change normal routine including eating or sleeping patterns, indulge in self destructive things such as using drugs or alcohol more often or driving vehicles recklessly, get agitated without any reasons, buy gun or stockpile pills, make a plan or research about ways to die, etc. Warning signs aren’t always obvious and they may vary from persons to persons. Some people make their intentions clear while other keep their suicidal thoughts and feeling secret. But they feel empty, hopeless, trapped or having no reason to live. Either they end their lives by suicide or take an attempt to commit suicide. Persons who want to end their lives by suicide rarely know that suicide is preventable and in India it is a attempting to commit suicide is a cognizable offence. If they want not to end their lives they may either consult mental health professionals, other healthcare provider or contact spiritual leaders and seek his advice. They may also express their feelings before a close friend or loved one or call a suicide hotline to give them hope for better life after immediate problems are preventing suicide requires strategies at all levels of society. This includes prevention and protective strategies for individuals, families, communities and government. Everyone can prevent suicide by learning the warning signs. If somebody knows that his friend or family is suicidal, he can take preventive steps as suggested Supra to save his life.
What are your suggestions to wipe out this scourge from our society?
India launched its National Suicide Prevention Strategy (NSPS) on November 22, 2022 in order to reduce the suicide mortality. Suicide is considered as sin and morally wrong in the society. Somebody said, ‘Suicide is unforgivable sin’. However, it can be said that “If the real purpose of life is to live, adopt, grow and to realise the full potentiality of self, one who is born in this world should not extinct his or her life by suicide.” Everybody born in this world should embrace life passionately till his or her natural death.
