As the country prepares to observe World Mental Health Day today, the spotlight is on the alarming rise in children ending their own lives this year.
The surge in child suicides during the first seven months of 2015 has already surpassed last year’s annual tally.
Campaigners identified depression; the transfer of parents’ anxiety to their children; parents’ marital unhappiness, excessive strictness and the rejection of children’s demands; and irrational fears as causes for the increased incidence of suicides.
Data compiled by child rights group Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BSAF), shows that 182 children committed suicide between January and September this year – 73 in the first quarter, 53 in the second quarter and 56 in the third quarter of 2015.
By contrast, there were 143 child suicides in 2014, 77 in 2013 and 49 in 2012, according to data compiled by BSAF.
According to the BSAF report, there were 13 unsuccessful attempted suicides by children in 2015, down from 23 in 2014, but up from 12 in 2013 and 2 in 2012.
Bangladesh is one of the world’s most suicide-prone nations, coming in 10th place in a 2014 World Health Organisation (WHO) ranking. Nearly eight in every 100,000 people commit suicide in Bangladesh, the WHO report said.
A National Institute of Mental Health survey from 2009 found that one in four Bangladeshi children suffered from some form of mental health problem.
The WHO funded survey found that low levels of education among parents and the incidence of mental illness among other members of the family correlated with the incidence of children’s mental health problems.
Unhappiness and isolation
The majority of child suicides are female children. Many commit suicide after being harassed sexually or after being raped, experts said.
Experts attributed the unhappiness and isolation of children to a lack of meaningful interaction with parents, causing depression and other mental health problems.
Police Headquarters data shows that some 60,000 people committed suicide over the last six years, over 70% of them women.
Mental health practitioners and child rights activists expressed concern that families, the government and concerned agencies are not doing enough to stem the tide of tragedy.
They said children can be very emotional and sensitive to any sort of rejection or disagreement, which can lead to emotional decisions and tragic consequences.
In mid-September, a fourth grade student committed suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan in Dhariya village in Netrakona after her mother scolded her for some minor reason.
On July 15, another fourth grader in Barisal’s Agoiljhara upazila committed suicide after her older sister failed to bring her a flower that she wanted.
Chairman of the psychology department at Jagannath University, Ashok Kumar Saha, said depression and mental health disorders can run in families.
“Children facing rejection from their parents cannot share their feelings with others and therefore end their lives by committing suicide,” he added.
Ashok blamed the media – feature films, television broadcasts, the web and new media – for the spike in child suicides. “They sometimes try to imitate the things they see.”
“Changing patterns of communication, including cell phone use and internet browsing, have also contributed to the situation,” he added.
BSAF Director Abdus Shahid Mahmood said parents’ marital unhappiness, domestic disputes and bickering took a serious toll on children’s mental health and contributed to suicides among children.
He said excessive strictness, humiliation and corporal punishment by parents can cause serious emotional disturbance in children.
“Children often do not understand why their parents bar them from doing something and then decide to end their lives,” he said.
Psychologist Mohit Kamal said at least 1% of the country’s children, mostly those with absentee parents, are at risk for suicide.
Both Mohit and Abdus Shahid counselled parents to cultivate friendships with their children and stressed the need for an awareness of children’s mental health issues and proper counselling for children in need.
Professor Saha said psychological issues should be included in the academic curriculum and schools should be staffed with counselling psychologists.
’Dignity in Mental Health’
WHO member countries will observe World Mental Health Day 2015 today with the theme “Dignity in Mental Health.”
To mark the day, Dhaka University has chalked out a series of programmes.
DU’s department of educational and counselling psychology (DECP) and Innovation for Well-being Foundation are jointly organising a workshop at the RC Majumdar Auditorium from 9am to 1pm today.
The clinical psychology department, Bangladesh Clinical Psychology Society and Nasirullah Psychotherapy Unit (NPU) will form a human chain in front of the National Press Club at 9am and hold a seminar at the TSC auditorium at 11am.
Free psychological evaluations and psychotherapy services will be offered between 10am and 5pm in the TSC game room.
On Saturday, the Student Guidance and Counselling Office and DECP will put up a day-long mental health information stall on the TSC premises to raise awareness of mental health issues.
