Rise in cases of suicides a cause for worry

SHILLONG: The suicide of a 17-year-old girl in the city after she was allegedly admonished in school for carrying mobile phone once again raises the question as to why people are taking such drastic steps in the face of crisis.
Meghalaya Police statistics reveal that last year as many as 166 people, including 42 women, committed suicide for various reasons.
Of the 166 suicides reported, family problems were the cause for suicide in 37 cases while illness was the reason in 26 cases.
In 2015, the number of suicide cases in the State was 172, including 131 males.
Speaking on the matter, East Khasi Hills SP Davis Marak said suicide is a social psychological problem that needs to be addressed by schools, families and peer groups.
“Schools, families and peer groups need to provide lot of support, care and counselling to the people,” he said and added that families should notice the erratic behaviour of people and try to address it by way of care and support.
The Class XI student of a reputed city school took the mobile phone with her to school on Wednesday. But she was not allowed to sit for the examination and the school authorities called her parents.
Police suspect that her suicide was the repercussion of the events that took place in the school.
Marak said people often get depressed easily and added that schools before taking action
against anyone must also understand the situation.
“It is unfortunate that a young girl lost her life and it should not have happened if somebody had counselled her,” he said.
He also said police do not have much role in these cases and their job is to find out why she committed suicide and if there was anyone responsible for it.
In the teenager’s case, if there is any proof of abetment, police would take up a case, he added.