Suicide among students in Bangladesh has increased over the past few years, especially since the start of the coronavirus lockdown.
Dhaka Tribune's content partner Deutche Welle spoke to psychiatrists to find out why the trend is rising.
“If I could get along better with my friends, it wouldn't have happened. Now I am degenerate. I am absolutely unforgivable to you, yet I am asking for forgiveness from everyone,” Anik Chakma, a student of Chittagong University's Marine Sciences Institute, who committed suicide in January, wrote the note.
From January to August 2022, a total of 364 students killed themselves.
According to a survey by a private organization called Anchal Foundation, 100 university students committed suicide in the country in 2021.
The survey also showed that 11 university students across the country committed suicide in 2018 and 19 students committed suicide in 2017.
In 2020, as many as 42 university students committed suicide and 50 university students committed suicide in the last eight months of this year.
The trend of suicide is common among people from different strata of society.
According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) survey, about 13,000 people commit suicide every year. This trend of suicide among students is increasing.
Significantly, after the start of the coronavirus epidemic in the country, the tendency to commit suicide has increased at an alarming rate.
Tansen Rose, founder and president of Anchal Foundation, blames inability to control emotions as one of the major causes of suicide.
“Major projects should be undertaken to control suicides. It is necessary to take measures to strengthen morale from childhood. During the time of coronavirus, many psychological changes come from sitting at home for a long time. Anger has increased, the rate of mental breakdown has also increased, along with the pressure of studies has increased,” she said.
“In addition, various family problems have increased more than before. The relative suicide rate is increasing because students are not able to manage everything together,” she added.
According to the Anchal Foundation survey, 194 (53.30%) of the 364 students who committed suicide in the first eight months of this year were from schools. College students are 20.88%, University 13.74% and Madrasa 12.09%.
In 2021, male students were more likely to commit suicide than female students and the new data says that this rate is higher among female students.
A total of 60.71% (221) female students have committed suicide this year and the remaining 143 are male students.
Psychiatrists believe that the pressure of extra studies on students is one of the reasons for the increase in suicide rates.
Dhaka University Clinical Psychology Department Chairman Jobeda Khatun said: “Suddenly, extra pressure is being put on the students. Their mental health is already in a bad state due to Covid.”
“After two years of coronavirus, the students are sitting at home and the exams are being conducted by opening the schools and colleges. But mentally they are not being prepared,” she added.
Describing her experience, the psychiatrist said: “At least 15 students have told me that they are not prepared for the exam. Along with the educational institution, there is family pressure. They must have the mental condition to handle so much pressure. As a result, out of desperation, suicide tendencies are developing among them.”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), suicide is the 17th leading cause of death worldwide. However, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15 to 19-year-olds.
As such, every 40 seconds a person chooses to commit suicide. Although poverty is not directly linked to suicide, it does increase the risk of suicide.
According to a WHO report, 77% of the world's suicides each year occur in low to middle-income countries.
National Institute of Mental Health Professor Tajul Islam said: “Life skills should be included in the curriculum from birth. Things like yoga, mindfulness practice, stress management, anger management, compassion, and self-care should be there.”
The professor also emphasized the formation of a task force consisting of experts to combat suicide.
The professor said: “People cannot hold back their emotions when they are disappointed by even the smallest reason. Then he feels alone and chooses to commit suicide. That's why everyone has to be more careful and responsible about the people around them."
World Suicide Prevention Day is being celebrated across the country on Saturday.
The government has set a target of reducing the suicide rate in the country by 2.4% by 2030.
For this purpose, the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) has also announced taking various social steps. Experts urge everyone in society to come forward and emphasize mental health.
Members of the National Emergency Service Hotline 999 have been seen working at various times to prevent suicide over the past four years. They rushed to rescue the victim after receiving calls at different times.
999 inspector Anwar Sattar said: “We have prevented 1500 suicides during this time. 999 is an emergency service. We often receive calls with information about suicide attempts.
“Sometimes the victim himself calls us and tells us that he is doing this because of family or some bad feeling. In this case, we try to rescue him by knowing his location. Also, many times the neighbours or victim's family, friends call us and inform us. In this case, we know the location of the victim and take quick action," he added.
Crime Expert and Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences of Dhaka University Zia Rahman said: "When the competition increases in the society, the pressure on people's minds increases, the pressure of life increases, then they commit suicide.”
“However, suicide is a crime because the society and laws of our country do not allow one to end life. Also, suicide has an adverse effect on the family and society, which increases the tendency of suicide in society,” he added.
Highlighting several points to avoid situations like suicide, Professor Zia said: “One cannot be separated from family and society and don’t have to struggle with yourself constantly. Let the family bond remain.”
“Excessive addiction and illegal relationships should be avoided. The process of growing up as a social person cannot be avoided. Being involved in sports, social and cultural activities, being involved in creative activities as much as possible, should be focused,” he observed.
