The Hindu : `Suicidal tendency high among the employed'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 18, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

`Suicidal tendency high among the employed'

By J.S. Bablu

THRISSUR FEB. 17. The data of persons who had availed of the services of the suicide prevention organisation, Maithri, here reveals that employed persons showed more suicidal tendencies than unemployed ones.

Addressing a press conference here, the Maithri director, C.C. Menon, and Francis Xavier said that while employed persons constituted 45 per cent of the overall persons who had used their services, the per cent of unemployed ones was 35. The majority of persons who had made use of the services were males (68 per cent). Another interesting finding was that more married persons (65 per cent) showed suicidal tendencies than unmarried persons (35 per cent). Also, those who live with family showed more suicidal tendencies than those living alone. A total of 54 per cent who had availed of the services of the organisation belonged to the 18-35 age category, while 34 per cent belonged to the 35-60 years category. Only 10 per cent of those persons below the age of 18 had availed of the services while only 2 per cent of those above the age of 60 subscribed to the organisation's services.The data also showed that students experienced great mental pressure. A total of 1,014 persons had availed of Maithri's services from February 1, 2002 to January 31, 2003. A total of 53 per cent had contacted the organisation over telephone while 43 per cent had approached it directly and 4 per cent by letter.

They said that the information conveyed to the organisation would be kept a secret and persons could contact it at the address `Maithri, Jananeethi Buildings, near Sakthan Thampuran Bus Stand, Thrissur--680001' or over telephone number, `2444472'. Those who contact the organisation are also not liable to disclose their name and address.

Maithri, a regional centre of the Befrienders' International, was started as part of Jananeethi on February 17, 2000, and has now completed three years of service. A total of 4,000 persons had availed of Maithri's services during the last three years. Maithri is open on all working days from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Maithri had also offered 24-hour service for a few days prior to the declaring of SSLC results and results of entrance examinations for admission to professional colleges.

They said that the reason that led to suicides was not problems as such but the emotional pressure that was connected with the problems. This was the reason why all persons having the same problem did not behave in the same manner. "Suicide is a behavioural method and those who are close to this behaviour will show many types of warning signals.

Suicide is never attempted owing to a single reason and findings show that various reasons finally lead to suicide (we may be aware of only the reason that was behind the final decision).''

They said the decision to commit suicide was usually taken after a prolonged period of vacillating on taking a `yes' or `no' decision. Hence, the World Health Organisation and International Association for Suicide Prevention had found out that 80 per cent of suicides could be prevented. "Maithri's experience was also in concurrence with this and the experience of those working in suicide prevention activities also proved that the decision to die could be changed.''

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Kerala HC dismisses Govt.'s review petition

SFI wants complaints against college probed

Spotlight on traditional craftsmen

Stone laid for NS medical institute

`Suicidal tendency high among the employed'

Award for P. Rameshan