the other song: Need for suicide prevention

September 10 is Suicide Prevention Day. Let us take a look at why we need to understand and help suicide prevention, why it is the need of the hour…

NEED FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among teenagers in the United States. About eight lakh people commit suicide worldwide every year, India, the nation with 17.5 per cent of world population accounts for about 17% of suicide rates. The last two decades have shown alarming increase in suicide rates with higher ratio in the southern and eastern states. Tamil Nadu accounts for 12.5%, Maharashtra is 11.9% and West Bengal 11.0%.

WHO statistics estimate the age standardized suicide rate in India is 16.4 per 100,000 for women, that accounts for the 6th highest in the world and 25.8 for men, ranking 22nd.

TELL-TALE SIGNS

Most depression cases and suicidal tendencies go unnoticed by even the closest of kin. It is rare that a patient talks about the depression by himself and seeks help. Those most prone include those depressed, or substance abusers, those with chronic pain, and illness, history of suicide, and family history of mental disorders or suicidal tendencies or having a violent family history.

· Talking about death and the want to die.

· Talking about emptiness, hopelessness and the loss of will to live.

· Searching for ways to kill themselves and at times, discussing the same.

· Guilt ridden

· Feeling trapped

· Expressing severe emotional and physical pain or trauma

· Withdrawal from society

· Uncharacteristically giving away material things

· Rage and revengefulness

· Extreme mood swings

· Bidding goodbye to close ones

· Suddenly deciding to make a will

· Talking of being a burden

· Severe anxiety

· Drug or alcohol abuse

· Change in eating and sleeping patterns

THE RED FLAG

One must keep his eyes open to see the red flag or the telltale symptoms of suicide-prone close ones. Noticing the red flag helps.

Noticing the same and lending a hand and seeking help at the right time can help save a life.

HOW DOES HOMEOPATHY HELP

Homoeopathy strives to treat psychic conditions related to suicidal tendencies by addressing the root cause and the individual’s susceptibility quotient. The cause, sensations and modalities decide the individualized remedy selection and treatment.

Homoeopathy helps treat fearfulness about the future helplessness, inaptitude for work, loathing of life, sadness and weeping; anxious reflection in relation to the present or future, gayety and fury, senseless frenzy, timidity, restlessness, constriction between mind and will, suicidal ideas and insanity from depressing emotional troubles; hallucinations, fear of failure melancholy, extreme sensitivity among others.

In other words, it helps an individual change his perspective towards life for the better, thus helping alleviate his suicidal tendencies to a great extent.

Dr. Meghna Shah, B.H.M.S.

Dean, ‘the other song’