Experts stress on empathy to prevent suicides

Ahmedabad, 13^th September 2021: Suicides account for 1.3% of all deaths in India. More than 1.39 lakh people ended their  lives in the country in 2019, with youth, women, and other vulnerable sections accounting for a significant number of deaths. In most cases, even family members or relatives are not aware of the psychological condition or suicidal tendency of the suicide victims. The World Suicide Prevention Day is observed on September 10 each year to create awareness about suicides and ways potential suicides can be stopped.

The theme of World Suicide Prevention Day 2021 was “creating hope through action”. Drug maker Cadila Pharmaceuticals and Indrashil University brought together noted psychiatrists, students, and professionals at a webinar to mark the Day on September 10.

Ahmedabad’s leading psychiatrist Dr. Ankit Panchmatia, the keynote speaker of the webinar, spoke about the symptoms and causes of suicidal tendencies and measures that can help in preventing suicides.

Dr. Panchmatia noted that the number of suicides in India had increased by 30% during the Covid-19 pandemic and attributed the surge to various factors such as financial problems, economic uncertainty, loss of a loved one, etc. He also expressed concern at the growing incidences of fraud at the hands of  fake sadhus and babas and advised the general population against falling prey to such elements.

Dr. Panchmatia stressed the need for dealing with people with suicidal tendencies with empathy. He also noted the social stigma associated with mental illnesses and reiterated the need to help the potential victims overcome the stigma and prevent them from taking any extreme step.

The other panelists, Dr. Bharti Dave, Dean of School of Sciences and Mr. Abhinand Pandya, Strategic Project Head of Indrashil University along with Mr. Rajeev Saxena, Vice President, Domestic Business,

Cadila Pharmaceuticals, also shared their insights on creating awareness and preventing suicides, especially among the youth. The panel stressed the role of mediation, mindfulness, yoga, deep breathing exercise, besides medicines to cure mental health problems. They also cited an international study that showed activities like Yoga, deep breathing, and mindfulness play a big role in reducing stress and anxiety.

Mr. Saxena said, “The society imposes depression on children from school days by pressurizing them for marks. Unnecessary comparisons are drawn with other children, and each child is unrealistically expected to score 90% or even higher.”