The suicide graph is climbing in Steel City despite efforts. As many as six suicides have been reported in 20 days. Several suicides have been reported due to unemployment. Two persons committed suicide by hanging in separate places in steel city on Sunday.
While a 35-year-old man, Amit Kumar Sharma committed suicide due to family disputes at his house on Post Office Road under Mango police station area in the wee hours, a 22-year-old youth, Anoj Kumar Singh alias Anuj, committed suicide at his house in Birsanagar allegedly for not being able to get a job. Anuj who was a resident of Zone No 4 Birsanagar committed suicide by hanging sometime between midnight and 5 am.
On August 9 suspended from a Tata Motors Ltd's ancillary unit a 20-year-old youth, Prabhat Kumar committed suicide by setting himself on fire near his house at Kailash Nagar under Burmamines police station area. Prabhat was rushed to Tata Main Hospital's burn care unit by neighbours, but he died within two hours. His body was sent for post-mortem at the MGM Medical College in Dimna .
Members of city based suicide prevention center Jeevan, said that they are keeping an eye on the trend. The reasons, as cited by psychiatrists, vary largely from complicated lifestyle and family problems to aggression and addiction.
An official, said, “In our study we have found that depression and rising pressure to perform is the prime reason for the rising suicides. While studying we have found that people who are depressed have higher tendency to commit suicide. So there is an urgent need to understand the problem and address it”. He said that the number of people contacting Jeevan centre has increased over the years.
“Teenagers are particularly sensitive to social and economic problems that affect their families. It hurts their psyche to see parents struggling to meet both ends and unable to buy those things they'd like to have,” said Prakash Sharma a social worker.
“Depression is the major concern of the society. It is not only medically harmful but it also leads people to commit suicide. While studying we have found that people who are depressed have higher tendency to commit suicide. So there is an urgent need to understand the problem and address it,” said Dr. UK Srivastava, city based medical practitioner.
He said that cases are caused by exposure of youths to uninhibited violence on television. The inability to perform well in examinations also forced students to end life. Like failure, illness is also a major cause of suicide.
“Trends are changing in our city though the numbers have reduced this year. Suicide, which about two decades ago was supposed to be the domain of the elderly, youths and women have taken the lead in this pursuit of death,” said Srivastava.
