Sajida A Zubair
I WAS considering writing a feature on suicides and India, a subject that was on my mind as September is World Suicide Prevention Month across the globe, that’s when Instagram algorithm suggested a film that piqued my interest. Available on YouTube, I set to watch ‘Not Today’ a short film directed by Aditya Kriplani.
‘Not Today’ is a spellbinding navigation of mental health and suicidal tendencies. The 90-minute film is an intense conversation between Aalia, a new recruit at a suicide prevention helpline centre, brilliantly played by Rucha Inamdar and Ashwin Mathur, an award-winning experienced suicide prevention counsellor who is on the brink of ending his own life, perfectly portrayed by Harsh Chhaya. The two main characters go through a delicate mending process.
The entire dialogue between the primary protagonists is a highly charged story that addresses the significance of mental health as well as the urgency of establishing a helpline to address this pressing issue. It also subtly addresses the effects of suicides on the caregivers and known circle. The plot is integrated into a broad community by the secondary supporting cast, adding to the story’s authenticity.
Kriplani has skilfully directed the movie to maintain anticipation and an emotional connection with the viewer throughout. The performers and crew do an outstanding task of portraying mental health conditions that lead to suicidal thoughts in a realistic and relatable style. The movie emphasises how important counselling services and helplines are in reducing suicide fatalities. Despite its simplicity in setting, the emotional weight carried by the leads keeps the viewer engaged, making the film a poignant, necessary conversation starter on a topic often stigmatised.
The declining state of our society has rendered human existence meaningless. Look around, it appears as if all of humanity is part of a competition. The state of affairs has reached a point where humans are now giving priority to death over life. Statistics also testify to the fact that it is easy to die, yet hard to live.
According to data analysis by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), in ten years, the number of suicide victims among Indian students increased by 70%. A total of 1,64,033 suicides were reported nationwide in 2021, a 7.2% increase from the previous year. According to reports, the suicide rate per lakh population is 12.2, which indicates a 6.2% increase in 2021 compared to 2020. Suicide rates have been steadily rising, from 9.9 per lakh in 2017 to 12.4 per lakh in 2022. And this is alarming.
The higher rates of death by suicides vary across the states. In India, suicide rates vary widely depending on the state; in 2022, the southern cities of Vijayawada and Kollam had among the highest rates. On average, however, the overall rate is two suicides per 1 lakh population. The study also found that deaths by suicide from substance use climbed 5.2% in 2017 to 6.8% this year, especially among people between the ages of 30 and 45 years.
The rate of student suicides remains consistently high with fluctuating factors such as exam failure, peer pressure and family expectations topping the list, particularly in urban areas which are home to competitive coaching institutes. Modes of suicide are changing, with fewer poisonings and more hangings. It can be essential to take preventive measures, limiting access to lethal means and promoting coping behaviours.
A detailed report titled “Youth Suicide in India: A Critical Review and Implication for the National Suicide Prevention Policy” by Snehil Gupta (MD, Psychiatry) and Devendra Basera (MD, Psychiatry) highlights that “Youth suicide is a significant public health problem in low-and middle-income countries (LMIC), including India. It is a distinct phenomenon with various bio-psycho-social determinants. Despite this, comprehensive literature on this topic is lacking from India.” They further add, “A global school based-survey (youth of 13-17years) has reported the 12-month pooled prevalence of suicide ideation among females and males to be 16.2% (15.6, 16.7) and 12.2% (11.7–12.7) respectively while the figure for suicidal ideation with the specific plan was 8.3% (95% CI; 7.9–8.7) (female) and 5.8% (95% CI; 5.5–6.1) (males).”
The nation’s deteriorating social structure and socio-political fragmentation are hurting every individual. Ram Nath Kovind, former president of India, said at the inauguration of the 21st World Congress of Mental Health in New Delhi 6 years ago: ” We need to talk about mental health issues and treat ailments like depression and stress as diseases that can be cured – not as guilty secrets that must be pushed under the carpet. Every year, almost 2,000,000 Indians commit suicide. If efforts are not taken to change this scenario, then India will be heading to an inevitable mental illness epidemic.”
This declining mental health situation in India is a sign that social welfare workers, in partnership with both the central and state governments, ought to make sure that individuals experiencing psychological distress receive appropriate support. In addition to providing awareness and assistance, a robust system explaining the warning signs, risk factors, and various forms of support should be established for the caregivers of such individuals. Setting up support centres and helplines for staff members should be a top priority for all governmental and non-governmental organisations, educational institutions, local panchayats, and other organisations.
Suicide is a multifaceted, extremely complex phenomenon. It’s a serious public health concern that calls for an all-encompassing, multi-layered, intersectoral policy.
*Sajida A. Zubair is an educator, freelance writer, and documentary scriptwriter. She is also a Counseling Faculty member at IPERC.
