Experts say insurmountable stress of today’s life and a withering support system pushing more over the edge
Ever-mounting socio-economic pressures and failed relationships are driving people living in metropolises to end their lives, experts believe.The frequency of suicide cases, particularly in metro cities, is on an unrelenting climb. Sociologists and psychiatrists point the finger at 'escapism', a growing tendency in the society, wherein people feel defeated by their woes and prefer the drastic step.
Escapism, according to experts, is a psychological diversion from a perceived unpleasantness of daily life, which causes persisting feelings of depression or general sadness. Such gloom is exacerbated by extensive reportage and TV portrayal of suicide cases. Such propensity is higher among youth.
In 2012, a study published in medical journal lancet revealed that suicide had become the second leading cause of death among young Indians. It said that suicides could soon overtake maternal mortality as the lead cause of death among women aged 15 to 29 and among young men too it claimed more lives than any other accident.
The statistics are a depressing testimony to that analysis. According to data provided by the Delhi Police, the maximum number of suicides was indeed by youngsters in the age group of 15 to 29. There is also a much greater threat to men, who were almost twice as likely to commit suicide. Men constituted 1,168 suicides in 2012, out of a total of 1,716 cases.
The numbers have only gone higher in the past seven years. In 2005, the total number of suicidal deaths was 1,245.
The Medical Superintendent of the Ram Manohar lohia Hospital, Dr HK Kar, said it is a matter of serious concern to see the shape of the suicide graph. "The growing information of such acts through media and TV serials has been a factor adding to this menace. People get involved in these serials and see how relationships are changing. They take up to escapism by taking such extreme steps," said Kar, who also blames society for having turned ruthless.
linking the suicidal tendencies of people to perceived stress and the breakdown of the family structure in the country, Sameer Malhotra, the head of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences at the Max Hospital, said suicides have increased several folds and it was high time for the nation to draw a mechanism in bringing down this trend.
"The changing economic and social structure of society has created new levels of stress which the common man is unequipped to cope with. The definition of success is becoming more materialistic in the entire world and India is no different," Malhotra said.
"It is becoming maddening. Everyone wants do the best but there are fewer opportunities. Expectations are too much. The thing that makes such vagueness more solid is the diminishing of the social support system. Family members don't have time for each other," Malhotra added.
Citing several instances, school teachers also shared concerns. They said it is important to have a balance between 'easing' the stress and 'seriousness' for achieving goals among students. "We need to revamp our education system but at the same time, when crime is growing in tandem with literacy, children have to be pushed to work hard. At the same time, we need to teach them to handle stress. It is our responsibility to make them understand that life does not end by one failure," said Anjali Roy, a history teacher at the South Delhi Public School in Defence Colony.