Why Suicide Rate is Increasing Among Youngsters in Pakistan?

Youngsters are the future of our country but in the past few years suicide rates among youngsters have been increasing day by day.

Suicide is a deliberate act to end one’s life or to kill oneself. Every 40 second someone dies by suicide somewhere around the globe. Every year, a million people commit suicide.

The suicide rate is increasing in Pakistan. Although figures for suicide and suicide attempts are notoriously sketchy in the country, doctors agree that they are seeing an increase in the number of such cases.

In Pakistan, suicide is considered a criminal act, religiously forbidden and highly stigmatized. Due to this reason and other socio-cultural factors, suicide cases are underreported. However, suicidal behaviors occur regularly across Pakistan, with an estimated 13,377 suicidal deaths with the rate of 7.5/100,000 (WHO, 2014).

Why Youngsters Commit Suicide?

According to The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) there were 1,153 attempted suicides across Pakistan and 2,131 suicides in 2011 with 5 or 6 youngsters attempting suicide daily.

Early adulthood is a carefree and fun time but this is not the case in Pakistan. Almost daily, a youngster suicides or attempts suicide but what is bothering them?

There can be many answers to this question but depression is the foremost and severe of all.

Most of the times it goes undiagnosed because consulting a psychiatrist is still considered a taboo in Pakistan. Depression and anxiety is not given its due importance. The larger part of the community is even unwilling to identify mental health as a problem.

People feel embarrassed to talk about visiting a psychiatrist for the fear of being judged or even considered a lunatic.

Recently, a student of Bahria University committed suicide due to failing in same course many times. Apart from academic stress, unemployment, relationship problem, family issues and many other reasons lead a person to end his life.

Symptoms of Depression:

Feeling down is a part of life but if the sadness and hopelessness does not go away, then unfortunately a person has depression. People need to understand that depression is not mental illness, it is just a phase which changes a person’s way of thinking, living and functioning in his daily life. People often describe depression as “living in a black hole”.

Depression varies from person to person, but there are some common signs and symptoms. Recognizing the symptoms is sometimes hard or people tend to avoid them and never get it diagnosed or treated.

Here are a few symptoms of depression everyone should know.

1- Hopelessness

2- Fatigue

3- Lack of Concentration

4- Uncontrollable Emotions

5- Restlessness

6- Lost in Appetite or Over Eating

7- Suicidal Thoughts or Attempts

Suicidal Signs:

A person may have suicidal thoughts if you observe the following changes in his behavior.

1- Talking about wanting to die or to kill oneself

2- Looking for a way to kill oneself

3- Talking about feeling hopeless or having no purpose

4- Talking about feeling trapped or being in unbearable pain

5- Talking about being a burden to others

6- Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs

7- Acting anxious, agitated, or reckless

8- Sleeping too little or too much

9- Withdrawing or feeling isolated

10- Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge

11- Displaying extreme mood swings

Parents, educational institute personnel, peers, and relatives need to know the warning signs of suicides. They should understand just like physical health, mental health is also very important. There is no shame in concerning a psychiatrist. Depression is normal but suicide is never a solution.