Saving Lives under the Long Shadow of the Pandemic

Context: Along with ?ghting the virus, there is a growing need to make mental health and suicide prevention a priority. 

Impact of the pandemic on mental health:

• Heightened Anxieties: Lock downs have led to isolation, in turn heightening anxiety and causing depression in societies, particularly in vulnerable communities. 

• Can lead to an increase in Death by Suicide: Death by suicide increased in the United States during 1918-19 influenza and during Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic’ in Hongkong in 2003.

• Changing Lifestyles: Major lifestyle shifts led to the rise of many lifestyle disorders in the last decade; the pandemic has exacerbated the mental disorders due to quick changes in lifestyles.

• New Normal: Necessary precautions such as social distancing, limited interactions and mask usage have to be come the new normal, with a huge social, physical, economic and mental consequence.
• People with greater risk: Certain sections of people are at a greater risks like -  
• Healthcare workers, Infected people and Individuals with compromised immunity,
• The elderly and migrant workers, 
• Women facing domestic violence, 
• Those su?ering from physical or psychological problems.
• Sudden closure of liquor outlets: resulted in an increase in alcohol related suicides.

• Rise in dire socio-economic conditions: during pandemic like mass migration, unemployment and economic distress make at-risk groups even more vulnerable during these times.

• Correlation between COVID cases and suicidal deaths: Some states with higher case incidence rates are also the major contributors to suicidal deaths like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Suicide prevention strategy in India: India has created a task force to develop a national suicide prevention strategy. 

• The plan incorporates the three universal strategies, including 

• A ban or reduction in access to highly hazardous pesticides, 
• Reduction in consumption and availability of alcohol, and 
• A non-sensationalized and responsible portrayal of suicide by the media. 

Way Forward: 

• Recognition of Early Signs: of poor mental health such as a sudden change in behaviour, sub stance use, anxiety, disturbed sleep and di?culty in communication, at an individual level.

• Regulating the Information (tackling- “Infodemic”): Being informed and limiting ourselves to authentic sources of information and reducing exposure to distressing news is a good mechanism to help cope up.

• Role of Media:  The media would need to follow the Press Council of India’s guidelines on reportage of suicide and also create awareness about suicide prevention.

• De-stigmatization of Suicide: There is an urgent need for destigmatizing suicide as a phenomenon and ensure there is an increase in the number of functional and accessible helplines and training of gatekeepers. 

• Developing understanding, compassion and support: both at an individual and systemic level to prevent suicide.

Conclusion: On World Mental Health Day (October 10) there is the most important message for the ones who may be having suicidal thoughts: You are not alone and must reach out for support, as help is available.