Death, thy only friend ???

Since past few weeks, we have been reading about rampant suicide incidents in Mumbai. What numbs me is the age group and the most absurd reasons involved in it. A little girl, barely ten, embraces death as ultimate option because she is not allowed to participate in some dance competition! A sales person, who can't meet his target and the pressure involved in achieving it, finds quick fix solution in ending his life! The list of such people is endless. We have read about all the suicide cases in media. Each case is more shocking than the other and macabre.

These incidents have raised few questions in my mind.

1) Considering the average age of the suicide victims, why and how does a person with barely any experience of life, take such conclusive step?

2) These victims must have been so lonely and alienated at some level to embrace death like this!! Why they were not able to cope up with the area of their life that must be, according to them terribly wrong?

Isn’t it shocking that most people around these suicide victims were not able to realize their pain! It is a known fact that majority of people with suicidal tendencies suffer from some kind of depression or psychological disorder.I agree, sometimes depression is difficult to trace as the symptoms are subtle. There is a possibility that some the victims may not have been taken to the psychiatrist due to the social stigma attached to it. And, what are the triggers that push a person with perfect mental health to suicide?

The major conundrum I have is, why are we facing loneliness to such grave degree? Why are we not able to reach out to our loved ones? We live in the world of connectivity. Entire world is just a click away. We know everything about a distant continent or planet with minute details but we don't know what's really going on with the person living under the same roof with us! What is the missing link here?

I think, part of the answer lies in the fact that we still have not learnt to recognize, understand and cope up with our emotions fully. We are yet to learn to deal with rejection, hurt, shame, guilt and many other emotions. Isn't it time we revisited our notions about life? Isn't it insane to expect life to be a cakewalk, when everything around it is changing so quickly? Why can't we learn to enjoy the complexities, the highs the lows, getting lost in the game and being born anew with a complete new perspective? World is changing rapidly leaving collective impact on everything in and around our life. The sheer pace is maddening. If we don’t equip ourselves to cope up with it and take this change positively in our stride then yes, we are in deep trouble.

There is brouhaha about the stress we all face everywhere. Nobody can escape it, not even a tiny toddler! Do we ever stop to think about the cause? Aren't we expecting unrealistic things from life, without preparing for the ingredients required for it?

Some people have started workshops in the city, helping people with suicidal tendencies, cope up with their trauma. It's a welcome gesture but not enough. It is important to have community involvement in this task. And the focus also needs to be on coping skills in all spheres of life.

I am not a psychiatrist to be able to analyze these suicide cases from every possible angle. Nor have I intended to. I am really scared of this epidemic. It is impossible for anyone to suspend these tragic deaths, and carry on with life as if nothing has changed around us. There is a constant cerebral chaos that keeps popping out every now and then forcing me to question myself, am I sensitive to everybody around me? Have I been a good listener? Have I been able to reach out? Is there anything more that I need to do? Believe me, these thoughts are freaking me!!I shudder to think about the plight of family members of the suicide victims. I know just praying for them is not going to be enough….