Every year, 10,000 to 14,000 people commit suicide in Bangladesh, making it the second highest cause of death in the country after road accidents.
A recent study revealed that among students aged 13-17, 4.4% of boys and 5.8% of girls commit suicide.
Depression has emerged as one of the leading causes of suicide, driven by factors such as failed romantic relationships, failing exams, academic pressure, excessive addiction to devices like cell phones and computers, the negative effects of social media, and parental alienation.
Speakers at the "Progress, Challenges, and Actions to Achieve Our National Targets to Reduce Deaths by Suicide" virtual roundtable on Wednesday emphasized that suicide prevention requires identifying the causes of suicide and providing counseling and support to those affected. They stressed the need for public and private organizations to collaborate in defining and implementing policies.
The roundtable was organized in partnership with the Nasirullah Psychotherapy Unit, Innovation for Well Being Foundation, Disabled Child Foundation, Mental Health Project, ADD International, and Dhaka Tribune. Abdullah Harun, Project Manager of ADD International Bangladesh, conducted the event.
Notable speakers included Dr M Kamruzzaman Mozumder, Professor, Department of Clinical Psychology, Dhaka University; Ghulam Faruq Hamim, Program Team Lead, ADD International Bangladesh; Dr Helal Uddin Ahmed, Professor, NIMH Child and Adolescent Mental Health; Khondoker Shahriar Shakir, Advocate, Bangladesh Supreme Court and Mental Health Network Member; Hasina Momotaz, National Professional Officer (Mental Health), World Health Organization (WHO); Dr S M Yasir Arafat, Associate Consultant, Department of Psychiatry, Bangladesh Specialized Hospital; Dr Yeshim Iqbal, Founder and Director, Kaan Pete Roi; and Tansen Rose, President, Anchol Foundation.
The speakers referred to the implementation of laws and policies to prevent suicide, noting that the mental health policy passed in Bangladesh in 2022 includes Section 7.13, which addresses suicidal tendencies and risk reduction. This clause outlines three broad measures: (1) The government should formulate a national suicide prevention strategy involving all stakeholders; (2) Key suicide prevention strategies should include mass campaigns, awareness programs, immediate emergency responses, and appropriate training for participants; and (3) Standardizing methods for collecting and analyzing data on suicide or suicide attempts, which would be particularly helpful in understanding the causes and prevention of suicide.
However, there is still no separate strategic plan for suicide prevention in Bangladesh. There are many myths and superstitions in Bengali culture about discussing suicide, resulting in limited discourse and inadequate research. Consequently, comprehensive data on regional suicide rates and their causes is lacking. Homicides are sometimes misclassified as suicides, especially in rural areas. Additionally, many people avoid discussing suicide for fear of punishment.
The speakers highlighted that Goal 3 of the National Mindset to Prevent Suicide Health Strategic Plan 2020-2030 aims to reduce the suicide death rate by 5% in the country by 2025. Four specific objectives and several activities have been responsibly planned to achieve this target: Conduct national research studies on suicide risk and incidence, develop a national referral system to address cases according to severity, create a national multisectoral strategy to reduce the risk and incidence of substance use, suicide, and suicide attempts, establish a national substance use and suicide prevention program, and provide additional support services for suicide prevention, such as social protection and rescue services for those who have attempted suicide.
The speakers also mentioned that a decision on measures to prevent suicide will be made in December this year after discussions with stakeholders. However, they believe that policies and legal measures alone are insufficient to address this complex problem. Proper research, along with collaborative efforts from community-based organizations, NGOs, and related government departments, is essential to identify the regional causes of suicide.
ADD International is implementing a community-based mental health program in Bangladesh. The interventions aim to reduce suicide and suicidal thoughts, particularly among young people facing mental health and psychosocial problems or other social disparities.
This program also focuses on reducing the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide and increasing awareness among community members and stakeholders, as the incidence of suicide has been rising in these communities.