Mental health and psychiatric specialists on Wednesday emphasized that preventing suicidal tendencies, which often arise from multifactorial problems, necessitates joint efforts.
“The most important part is to start prevention from childhood, establishing an appropriate control system to manage emotional trauma, and ensuring easy access for these vulnerable individuals so that they can receive emergency support services,” they underscored in a webinar organized to address World Suicide Prevention Day.
The webinar, titled “How Bangladesh Can Create Hope to Reduce Suicide through Advancing Actions”, was organized by the "Community-based Mental Health of Children and Youth at Risk and Support Services" project of ADD International Bangladesh, supported by Comic Relief.
“Creating Hope Through Action” is the triennial theme for the World Suicide Prevention Day from 2021-2023.
ADD International Asia Regional Director MD Shafiqul Islam served as the convener of the event.
Mental health and social stereotype
ADD International Bangladesh Mental Health Project Manager Abdullah Al Harun remarked that suicide is a manifestation of severe mental distress and due to social stereotypes, these issues are often neglected.
“Most individuals still feel uncomfortable while discussing suicide due to stigmas, superstitions, religious beliefs, and legal implications present in many countries,” he said adding that these misconceptions among families and communities can deter those in need from seeking help.
With this statement, speakers commented on the imperative of raising awareness, reducing stigma, and encouraging informed actions to decrease suicide rates in Bangladesh.
Multifactorial indicators
Assistant Professor Helal Uddin Ahmed of Child, Adolescent and Family Psychiatry at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) pointed out that numerous factors, such as relationship strain, financial issues, education and career setbacks, family problems and social isolation, can compound, pushing an individual into a vulnerable mental state, which ultimately leads to suicidal tendencies.
“When multiple factors converge, they can create mental instability in an individual. If their personality becomes fragile as a result, they may struggle to cope with their emotional state and could choose to end their life,” he said.
Mentioning the necessity of fostering stress tolerance, he said: “Society should nurture resilience so that an individual can overcome suicidal tendencies.”
Criminalization of suicide
Monira Rahman, founder and executive director of the Innovation for Wellbeing Foundation and country lead of MHFA Bangladesh, stressed that people are still reluctant to communicate openly about suicide, especially in the Bangladeshi context, where it is deemed a criminal activity.
"Following the British law, we still treat suicide as a criminal offence, often involving law enforcement before medical professionals, which perpetuates the notion of it being a secret," she added.
She shared that their organization provides suicide prevention first aid training and emphasized that early symptoms can help in preventing suicides.
“We have observed individuals at work who exhibit signs and symptoms of depression or suicidal tendencies,” she remarked.
A concerning trend in rural Bangladesh sees poison as a common means of suicide. Experts called upon healthcare professionals to approach such cases with empathy and care.
Challenges in strategic plan
Dr Mohammed Robed Amin, director of Non-communicable Diseases at DGHS, said that the national mental health strategic plan places special emphasis on preventing suicidal tendencies with a goal to prevent suicides by 2030.
“While this is addressed as a mental health issue, implementing this plan is challenging,” he said adding that it is not the sole responsibility of the health department.
“Various government and private institutions must collaboratively work to prevent suicide from their respective places,” he remarked.
He specifically urged social media and mass media to refrain from activities that promote imitative suicide trends.
"It is important to be careful about how self-harming language affects vulnerable people because we have seen an increase in cases of imitative suicide," he added.
Suicide statistics - alarmingly high
According to a survey by the Aachol Foundation involving 2,027 students from schools, colleges and universities, 49% were aged between 18 to 35 years.
The study revealed a 22% deterioration in mental health linked to relationships. Interestingly, research indicates these tendencies are entirely preventable.
The ongoing pandemic has exacerbated suicidal tendencies, particularly among young Bangladeshis, with 49% of suicides involving individuals aged 20-35, of which 57% were women.
Rubina Jahan, head of the Mental Health Programme at SAJIDA Foundation, highlighted the urgency to propagate simple SCC support systems, locust health services, and helplines at both local and national government levels.
Presenting a global perspective, an estimated 703,000 people succumb to suicide annually. Bangladesh witnesses 10,000-14,000 suicides yearly, marking a 2.6% annual increase.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) reported 14,436 suicides in the 2019-20 period, predominantly within the 20-35 age bracket.
