Mental illness, alcoholism or drug abuse, previous suicide attempts, family history of suicide, terminal illness or chronic pain, recent loss or stressful life event, social isolation and loneliness and history of trauma or abuse etc. are among the main factors contributing for suicide. However, GVKEMRI-108 services said that the service strives round the clock to provide immediate medical relief to victims who attempt suicide.
As per the information available, 489486 was total emergencies from GVKEMRI operating states reported in June 2013 and 2 per cent of these incidences are related to poisoning and suicide. Majority of the victims (35 per cent) belong to very young age (20 to 29 years) only slightly more than half of them (52 per cent) are males and 48 per cent are females. Interestingly, 80 per cent of the victims are from the rural areas only. Majority of poisoning and suicide cases were reported from the state of Andhra Pradesh (4.9 per cent). While speaking to The Pioneer, Manish Tinkoo, State Head, GVKEMRI-108 service said that stern instructions have been regularly instructed to the medical staff to strictly deal with the suspect poisoning and suicide cases.
He claimed that the fleet of life saving ambulances is full of life saving drugs in order to save the lives of the victims. Tinkoo said that Emergency Medical Technicians and medical officers are well trained to handle any kind of emergencies. Medicos said that if the person looks worried then instead of neglecting him, ask him to share his plight and always respect his feelings and respond quickly in a crisis situation, offer for help and support. They said that alcoholic people are more prone to admit suicide and sharing their views will certainly help the victims to overcome the problem.