Suicide Triggers: Academic Underperformance and Relationship Problems at the Forefront
According to data from 1Life, a prominent suicide prevention helpline, academic difficulties and relationship problems stand out as the primary catalysts behind suicides among Indian youth.
On World Suicide Prevention Day, 1Life, listed reasons which drive Indian population across age groups towards suicides. These details were announced from the experience of handling thousands of calls from individuals who seek help and advice to overcome their mental status ().
Addressing Youth Mental Health Challenges in India
Commenting on the findings, K. Rebecca Maria, Counseling psychologist, 1Life, a suicide prevention helpline said, "Though India is considered a one big family, and joint family concept is quite prevalent, many youngsters are not comfortable sharing their problems or issues that trouble them the most with their immediate family members. It is highly unfortunate that we as a society do not discuss certain uncomfortable issues which impact the lives of youth of India." In the last one year, 1Life received calls from 28 Indian states, and our volunteers speak 15 languages - Hindi, English, Telugu, Kanada, Tulu, Tamil, Malayalam, Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi, Sindhi, Bhojpuri, Bengali, Konkani, and Urdu.‘From September 2022 to August 2023, 1Life volunteers received 22,674 calls, with the majority (about 68%) coming from students and young adults grappling with academic setbacks and relationship problems. Employment and financial pressures were also mentioned as factors behind suicidal thoughts. #suicide #suicideprevention’
The volunteers receive an average of 25 to 30 calls per day. On weekends this number rises to 45 to 60 calls a day. The volunteers try to answer all calls and address the caller's concerns and a few might get dropped in between due to technical glitches or network issues. Calls increase on the weekends because most people might like to share the issues they have faced through the week days.The statistics show that 65 percent of individuals aged between 15 and 25 years were feeling suicidal due to academic stress, parents' expectation, failures and relationship. About 50 per of people aged between 25 and 40 years complained of relationship issues, lack in professional growth, lack of confidence, loneliness and depression.
Forty percent of callers aged 40-50 years had problems like financial instability, family crisis, genetic history and clinical history. Fifty percent of those above 50 years face issues like financial crisis conditions, health/medical issues, or were disowned by families.
Reference:
- World Suicide Prevention Day 2023 - (https:www.who.int/campaigns/world-suicide-prevention-day/2023)