KATHMANDU: Lately, mental problems are turning into suicide cases. There are many cases of mental problems such as anxiety, depression, and panic attacks forcing people to commit suicide.
Due to mental stress, especially in teenage girls because of the hormone-related ‘mood changes’ and mental instability, the cases of suicides are increasing remarkably.
Often they complain about the lack of proper support from the family and talk about the family pressure. The risk of suicide can be reduced if the family tries to understand the mental condition of the children.
Khabarhub’s Bina Neupane approached senior psychiatrist Dr. Kapildev Upadhyay to discuss the issue of mental health, increasing suicide cases, etc.
Here are the excerpts from the interview:
People say that keeping the children in a hostel for education rather than keeping them at home has contributed much to the increasing instances of suicide in Nepal. Is it so?
Yes, when the children feel they are sent to the hostel because their parents do not have time for them, they (the children) are likely to feel neglected.
Hence, sending the children to a hostel is okay provided they are convinced it is for a better education.
However, if the children feel their parents want to get rid of them by sending them to the hostel, they (children) might feel lonely and might start thinking they have none to live for.
This type of thinking might lead them to anxiety and anxiety might result in depression ultimately making room for suicide cases.
Females are more likely to commit suicide than males. What is the reason for this?
There has not been any substantive reason for this issue. But some statistics have shown that suicide has increased because women of childbearing age have a higher risk of depression.
Yet, it is not possible to say that this is the reason why teenage girls commit suicide. As teenagers are more emotional and are subject to an inferiority complex, mental problems may have occurred. They may have committed suicide due to some other problems as well.
What should be the role of the family in such a situation?
Suicide can be prevented on many levels. On the one hand, teenagers should be made aware of the importance of life, that the life we have once should not be finished untimely.
Then, the parents should be watchful of what kind of stress are the wards going through in the school/college or workplace, what type of friends they have made and whether they need any mental or emotional support/care or not. One should observe whether the children have taken to drinking or drugs etc or not.
There are some things you can’t tell your family but you can share with your friends. What should be the role of friends at this time?
Absolutely true, there are some things you can share with your friends but not with your family. When you tell your best friend what is on your mind, it will lighten your heart. Friends should help when there is a problem.
You can also take help on how to solve it together with a friend. And don’t watch content like suicide, violence in the media, internet. It can send a bad message. Suicide is not a solution to any problem.
A true friend can help a friend overcome negative thoughts. It is well said a friend in need is a friend indeed.
What other measures can be taken to prevent suicide?
There should be public awareness about suicide. The family should understand the problem well. There should be the provision of counselors and coordinators.
Similarly, if there is a mental problem, there should be a conducive environment for sharing. If you have any kind of mental problem, you should consult a psychiatrist or counselor.
Similarly, there is a ‘suicide helpline’, if someone has bad thoughts, they can call this helpline and get help.
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