- Make no mistake, the worst form of death is to end life by committing suicide either through self-inflicted injuries or some such measures that are contrary to the natural laws of Mother Nature. As evolved and learned people often mention, life is a beautiful blessing bestowed upon us that must be harnessed with due diligence without ever letting the vagaries of day-to-day existence get in the way too much. Life can never be considered full of roses alone but interspersed with thorns which only adds to the fascinating roleplay each of us is expected to perform. The human mind is always considered endowed with oceanic depths that cannot be easily deciphered or comprehended. Thus, the subject of mental health has gained importance over the years.
PC: TOI
- Since humanity keeps evolving tremendously on the back of advancements driven by modern-day technologies, the science of mental health too has rightfully garnered enough attention. How does India fare on this front? Let’s delve further to understand the phenomenon. Worryingly, national crime data for 2022 makes for a grim reading. Among the grimmest statistics is that the national daily average of suicides was nearly 500. This is astonishing, to say the least. What does this say? Chronic levels of stress remain unaddressed. The three big gaps are poor mental health infrastructure, grey areas in relevant laws, and taboos that stop people from seeking help. The picture gets murkier when extrapolated with the damning statistics.
- In a grim reminder of sorts, in 2022, a third of all who died by suicide were farmers, daily wagers. Over 13,000 students form the other large group. Mental health experts say suicide clusters, such as in Kota, need niche tactics with continuous psychiatric evaluation and care. Yet as we saw in Kota, where 23 youngsters have died by suicide this year, authorities opted to put springs in ceiling fans, and nets below balconies. Can anybody vouch that these measures are workable solutions? Not at all. Note that attempted suicide as per IPC Section 309 was decriminalized with the mental health law in 2017. The new bill BNS, to be tabled in Parliament soon, has rightly dropped the legal provision altogether. The updated BNS retains abetment, notoriously difficult to prove though.
PC: Law Insider India
- The SC again recently mentioned that to convict a person for abetment, his criminal intent and instigation must happen close to the time of the suicide. Prosecution without such evidence would be nothing but an abuse of the process of law, said the SC. The problem often is a shoddy police investigation. Survivors need support and long-term help. Are we equipped to provide long-term help? Sadly, no. Addressing the taboo on mental distress is a task beyond the capacity of India’s network of suicide helplines and support networks largely privately run, by psychiatrists and NGOs. Government networks, where they exist, are often inaccessible and understaffed. Distressingly, 35% of suicide deaths were in the 18-30 age group. More should be done, here.
