By Rush Guha
A curious engineer was immersed in a tough math problem at his college library, sacrificing sleep to solve it. Despite numerous failed attempts, his perseverance paid off with a breakthrough. Excitedly, he went to his supervisor to share the news and asked for more time. Sadly, the request was denied, putting his college enrollment at risk for not meeting the project deadline. Disheartened, he returned to his room, weighed down by his dreams. Tragically, the next morning, he was found lifeless—depicted as Joy Lowbo in “3 Idiots,” a young engineer overwhelmed by despair.
This scene depicted in the film resonates with the present scenario of two pivotal cases of suicide which have come up – the first one at Kolkata’s Jadavpur University due to ragging in the university campus and the second one in Chennai, due to failure in the NEET examination. In this context, the classical sociologist Emile Durkheim’s study of Suicide (1897) remains a stalwart. Durkheim’s study was based on secondary data collected from the local police. In his study, the functionalist bestowed four major observations which hold relevance even in the contemporary globalized world. He used integration and regulation as two parameters to present four types of suicides, namely altruistic, egoistic, anomic, and fatalistic suicide. He used four variables for his theory, marital status (bachelor/married), locality (developed/underdeveloped country), religious orientation (protestant/catholic), and sex (male/female).
Durkheim’s study revealed that the rates of suicide were higher among bachelors and males than among married and females. It also revealed that suicide rates are less in underdeveloped countries in comparison with developed countries. According to the thesis, people with high suicidal thoughts are less integrated into society. In contemporary society, egoistic and anomic suicides are common. There are suicides that result from low integration of one in society and low regulation of individuals by society, as seen in the case of Joy Lowbo. Apart from this, family problems, marriage, and love-related problems, and illness account for two-thirds of cases in India.
According to a 2018 report from the World Health Organization (WHO), suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the world with about 8,00,000 people committing suicide every year. Of these, about one-third occur among the youth. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death among 15-29-year-olds. The picture is even worse than it appears because, for every suicide, there are many more people who attempt suicide. Suicide is not just restricted to high-income countries, it is a global phenomenon. In fact, about 80% of global suicides occur in low and middle-income countries. Thus in this context of locality, Durkheim’s theory has lost its relevance. Now let’s analyze the same in the Indian context.
As outlined in the 2022 report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the somber reality remains that our nation witnesses a staggering annual toll of over 1,50,000 lives lost to suicide. The distressing trajectory from 2019 to 2022 unveils a disconcerting rise in the suicide rate, ascending from 10.2 to 11.3 per 1,00,000 individuals in the population. Notably, India’s global share of suicides has undergone a marked shift, surging from 25.3% in 1990 to a notable 36.6% in 2016 concerning women, and from 18.7% to 24.3% concerning men. Reflecting a stark imbalance, the ratio of suicides between genders stands at 70:30, underscoring the urgency of addressing this multifaceted challenge, a silent epidemic.
From a data-driven vantage point, it becomes apparent that Durkheim’s enduring theory retains its relevance, particularly in the realms of sex and marital status. However, when scrutinizing the variable of locality, the evidence suggests a departure from this pattern.
Acknowledging the grave issue of suicide, the Indian government has taken a decisive stance. In a proactive move, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has unveiled the inaugural National Strategy for Suicide Prevention, signifying a significant milestone. With a resolute objective, this pioneering strategy endeavors to curtail the nation’s suicide mortality rate by a notable 10% within the span of a decade, setting its sights on the year 2030. Drawing inspiration from the well-established directives outlined by the World Health Organization (WHO) for Suicide Prevention in the South East Asian region, the structure of this national strategy closely aligns with these esteemed international guidelines.
The approach not only mirrors the guidelines set forth by the WHO but also intricately weaves them into India’s unique socio-cultural context and its present social infrastructure. The core of this approach revolves around establishing robust surveillance mechanisms for monitoring suicides within a concise three-year timeframe. Furthermore, a comprehensive plan is in motion to institute psychiatric outpatient departments as integral components of the District Mental Health Programme, ensuring the availability of vital suicide prevention services across all districts within a commendable five-year span. Actively encased within the framework of the Mental Health Act, this strategy serves as its prominent outer layer.
A pivotal aspect of this strategy lies in its meticulous consideration of the pervasive stigma enveloping mental disorders and suicidal tendencies. An exhaustive brainstorming process has yielded pragmatic guidelines, aimed at fostering responsible and sensitive media coverage of suicide incidents. Simultaneously, an innovative mental well-being curriculum is being conceived for integration into educational institutions. This pioneering endeavor holds profound significance, acting as a catalyst for elevating community awareness and dismantling long-standing taboos. It epitomizes the progressive essence of Indian society, poised to set a compelling example on the global stage.
Views expressed in the article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the editorial stance of Kashmir Observer
- The author is a Research intern at UN and IUCN
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