Post Reply 
 
Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Suicides on the rise in Pakistan
09-11-2009, 06:07 AM
Post: #1
Suicides on the rise in Pakistan
According to a study conducted by the Aga Khan University (AKU), the number of suicides is steadily rising in Pakistan, with an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 incidents per year.

Almost 34 per cent of the population, mostly under 30 years of age, suffers from common mental disorders and more than 90 per cent of suicides can be linked to depression, according to Dr Murad Moosa Khan, Chairperson of the AKU Department of Psychiatry.

In order to raise awareness, World Suicide Prevention Day is commemorated on September 10 every year by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).

“More than a million people worldwide commit suicide each year. This is greater than the number of people killed in wars, terrorist activities and homicides,” said IASP President Prof. Brian Mishara. Over six million people are affected each year by the disastrous impact of the suicide of a close friend or family member.

The WHO estimates that globally there is one suicide every two minutes. In Muslim countries, where suicide rates are generally low, Pakistan stands out as an anomaly. A growing socio-economic crisis, civil unrest and other social burdens have worsened the situation.

The inability of the government to resolve these issues increases frustration, which converts to depression. “One of the factors in suicide is hopelessness. The more depressed you are the more hopeless you feel,” said Dr Khan.

Suicide attempts that do not succeed have a psychological, social and economic cost.

Suicide results from several factors, including mental illness, poverty, substance abuse, social isolation, losses, relationship difficulties and workplace problems.

To be effective, suicide prevention needs an approach that acknowledges the multiple causes of suicidal behaviour.

Dr Khan says that an immediate mental health intervention is needed in Pakistan. “For this, we need to reduce access to commonly-used methods of suicide, which in Pakistan include pesticides or poisons,” he said. Training of female health workers to identify and report potential suicide cases as a pre-emptive measure is necessary in this regard.

He further said that spreading education and awareness in communities and giving support to people who have attempted suicides should be a priority. “The media can play an extensive and very important role in helping us spread this awareness,” he said.

To understand the scope of the problem in Pakistan and to discuss the socio-economic, legal and other aspects of suicide, the Suicide Prevention and Research Interest Group (SPRInG) at the AKU is organising a seminar and workshop titled “Suicide: Hidden Realities in Pakistan”, to be held at the AKU Auditorium on Wednesday September 30, 2009.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=197758
Quote this message in a reply
Post Reply 


Possibly Related Threads...
Thread: Author Replies: Views: Last Post
  Lahore: Online Fraud on Rise LRE-Azan 0 1,476 11-22-2021 08:16 PM
Last Post: LRE-Azan
  Illegal settlements on the rise in forest areas of Islamabad Salman 0 5,250 03-18-2014 01:44 PM
Last Post: Salman
  Property prices rise by 33.1pc in 2013 CMY 0 5,946 12-28-2013 08:48 AM
Last Post: CMY
  ISLAMABAD / LAHORE / KARACHI : Rise and fall in property prices Salman 0 7,955 11-25-2013 01:35 PM
Last Post: Salman
  Owners To Ensure Fire Safety Measures In High-Rise Buildings In Lahore Salman 0 5,567 06-08-2013 06:18 PM
Last Post: Salman
  Commercial use of residential units on the rise Salman 0 5,027 02-15-2013 12:52 PM
Last Post: Salman
  Illegal constructions on the rise in Rawalpindi Salman 0 4,556 07-25-2012 01:51 PM
Last Post: Salman
  High-rise owners told to submit building details Salman 0 4,708 04-09-2012 05:55 PM
Last Post: Salman
  Encroachments on the rise in capital Salman 0 4,434 03-15-2012 01:11 PM
Last Post: Salman
  Land dispute cases on the rise in twin cities Salman 0 4,591 01-26-2012 01:27 PM
Last Post: Salman
  Domestic demand on rise despite upward price pressure Salman 0 4,720 12-15-2011 11:40 AM
Last Post: Salman
  Illegal commercial use of PHA flats on rise Lahore_Real_Estate 0 4,512 08-17-2011 01:02 PM
Last Post: Lahore_Real_Estate
  Sale of cakes, sweets on the rise Lahore_Real_Estate 0 4,180 09-08-2010 04:00 PM
Last Post: Lahore_Real_Estate
  Pakistan's reserves rise to $16.12billion Lahore_Real_Estate 0 3,680 09-03-2010 12:13 PM
Last Post: Lahore_Real_Estate
  Majeed's rise from rags to riches, to centre of sports scandal Lahore_Real_Estate 0 3,987 09-02-2010 02:58 PM
Last Post: Lahore_Real_Estate
  Cooking oil price likely to rise Lahore_Real_Estate 0 3,912 08-28-2010 12:27 PM
Last Post: Lahore_Real_Estate
  US army reports (Record) 32 suicides in June LRE 0 3,974 07-18-2010 11:34 AM
Last Post: LRE
  80% rise in WASA bills Approved! LRE 0 5,645 04-27-2010 09:59 AM
Last Post: LRE
  Rise in unplanned settlements: Cabinet directs CDA to ensure proper town planning Lahore_Real_Estate 0 3,455 04-22-2010 11:39 AM
Last Post: Lahore_Real_Estate
  Heightened credit risk, rise in infected loans major challenges Naveed Yaseen 0 4,322 03-24-2010 01:02 AM
Last Post: Naveed Yaseen

Forum Jump:


User(s) browsing this thread: