By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: “Suicide is a public health hazard,” Dr Sandi Syiem warned and stated that prevention needs to be equated with the successful public health campaigns used in the eradication of polio and smallpox.
The lack of awareness in society as to the factors surrounding suicide and society’s unwillingness to confront the issue were key topics discussed in an open forum held to mark World Suicide Prevention Day, organised by SAN-KER, at Cleve Colony, in the city, on Tuesday.
How stigma that surrounds suicide and mental illness is a hindrance and harms society was also discussed, led by a presentation by Rev. VTS Langstieh.
Speeches were given by K Marbaniang, Secretary to the Health Department, and by the chief guest T Phanbuh, Chairperson of the Meghalaya State Commission for Women. Phanbuh shared two personal stories relating to suicide and depression at the end of the forum.
The organisers, however, described the attendance as ‘very poor’. Dr Syiem said that principals of schools and colleges had been invited but their poor turnout was ‘symptomatic of the lack of concern for mental health’ in the State.
With the aim of understanding how the youth of the State feel, a study was carried out by SAN-KER in six schools of East Khasi Hills recently and the findings were shared by Naphisabet Kharsati. While the findings make for interesting reading, Dr Syiem said that it was still too early for firm conclusions to be drawn. He hoped that the government will support the organization in carrying out further research in the State.
According to a study by medical journal The Lancet, there were 187,000 suicides in India in 2010, while official figures from the National Crime Records Bureau say that more than 135,000 people took their own lives in India in 2012.
Meghalaya saw 128 cases of suicide in 2012, according to police figures, although Dr Syiem believes this to be a heavily underreported figure. Nevertheless, the number of cases has seen an increase of around 80 per cent since 2005 in the State.
Those at the forum also learnt that for every one suicide there are around eight times as many attempted suicides.
Dr Syiem explained that studies have shown that those with a higher level of education are more likely to be victims of suicide and educational stress is a major cause of suicide among the youth.