Dial H for help
As depression threatens to take over,do we have enough counsellors to help pull people back from the brink Indrani Rajkhowa Banerjee reports
As depression threatens to take over,do we have enough counsellors to help pull people back from the brink Indrani Rajkhowa Banerjee reports
EARLY one morning,22-year-old Naini*,the wife of a garment exporter,hanged herself from the ceiling with a dupatta.A week later,a media person,who cheerfully greeted her co-worker a day before,killed herself on a balmy afternoon,just before she had to report to work.
From successful fashion models,child participants in reality shows to empowered professionals,people are killing themselves at the slightest pretext.But here comes the shocker besides the psychiatry wards run by hospitals,all major cities in India have not more than four to five mental health helplines,a pathetically low number compared to the bulging population in cities.These helplines are run by NGOs operating on private funds;the government refuses financial help as suicide is a crime.
In a country where suicide has become a way of life,wheres the helping hand Snehi,a helpline in Delhi,works only six days a week,from 2 to 6 pm.Theres no way of reaching out to those who call Snehi for help at nightfall.
The story is repeated in almost all major cities.Barring Sumaitri in Delhi and Asra in Mumbai,there are no 24/7 suicide helplines in the country, says Abdul Mabood,founder director of Snehi.The funds are pathetic,the office under-staffed.Our volunteers are not paid because we cannot ask our patients to pay us, he says,bringing into focus the irony of counselling for life.
Between life and death,theres a thin line,and lucky are those who are pulled out of the abyss by a few kind words.2 2 – ye a r- o l d Raghav* shares special occasions with cakes and sweets with volunteers at Asra.Raghav shares a special bond with Kabir*,a helpline volunteer who once talked him out of suicide.Says Kabir,Words are the most powerful things on earth.Some have even been known to stop bullets or someone from taking the plunge to death. Snehi trains at least 20 volunteers almost every six months but very few last in their job for more than a year.The training is tough,about 150 hours spanning over six months,with extra classes on weekends.These volunteers come from all walks of life students,housewives and working professionals.There are also those who have been on the other side of the fence.Like Esther.She has attempted suicide several times,but every time shes come back from the brink with help from counsellors.Now,as a suicide helpline worker,Ive decided to help people in distress.
There are many like Esther who would like to counsel but the timings are a deterrent.Banyan in Chennai gets seven to 10 calls every day.Each case requires a minimum half hour and can go up to three to four hours.The thought of a life waiting to be snuffed out keeps you on tenterhooks.Pacifying such people can also make you depressed, says a volunteer at Banyan.
Says a spokesperson at The Samaritans,Mumbai,It has to be understood that suicidal tendencies cannot be cured with medicine.Such people need emotional support. Loneliness can be a killer, Abbas Tyrewala,director of Jootha Hi Sahi,said in an interview after touching upon the taboo topic in his film.But not all sad stories have a filmy ending al la Anjana Anjani.
Says author Advaita Kala,who penned the script for Anjana Anjani,Despite a high standard of living and caring families,depressed people dont think twice before snuffing out their lives.This clearly looks like a case of a lifestyle which has grown too difficult for people to cope with.
Children between 9-18 call suicide helplines,especially during January and February,when its time for exams and results.Stress,confusion and peer pressure trigger suicidal tendencies.The festive season can be another trigger for the lonely to take drastic steps.
Why are people so blue Says Abdul Mabood of Snehi,Suicide is momentary madness.It has no explanation.Kerala,with the highest literacy rates,has one of the highest suicide rates,while Bihar,one of the poorest states,is at the bottom of the list.From lack of companionship to financial losses,from competition to ailments,the reasons are many.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that about one million people commit suicide each year.Men are four times more likely to die from suicide than women.However,women report attempted suicides about three times as often as men.
Lonely singletons in metros get prone to depression during the festive season.However,the biggest cause for suicide is failure of romantic relationships.Says Venkat from Banyan,A spurned lover out to prove a point can be stubborn.In most cases,the person calms down,but sometimes the situation gets dangerous.Its strenuous for me.But I dont mind.They are beautiful people and I know Im their only chance to get a life
(* Names changed to protect identity)