Suicide.

One more suicide.

A young doctor studying at THE most prestigious institution loses life to suicide.
I realised that he was following me on this platform. That realisation makes this even more sad at personal level. Was there any way i could have helped him and prevented the tragedy?

I dont know perfect answers to all these questions.
Attempting to write a few that can be helpful for all young adult students (18-25 age group) –

1. Irrespective of what your seniors tell you, mental health IS important.
   It is based on combination of your brain chemistry, your formative experiences and your circumstances. There is no SINGLE cause or simple single remedy.
   Getting help from professionals remains single most effective life saver as of now.
2. “Feeling hopeless” is a robust indicator of high suicidality. Anger with or without agitation and consuming intoxicants like alcohol are high risk factors. A combination of these three (hopelessness, agitation and alcohol) is lethal.

Watchout for that in yourself and your near ones.

3. Hopelessness – it is seen as little or no positive expectation about future. Despondency about systems and life in general. Belief in futility of effort and feeling of powerlessness/paralysis in front of the authorities and powerful.
   Feeling that life is wasted and a wasteful effort is prominent.
   Those who feel trapped in the life / situation are at high risk.
4. Agitation and anger – we are familiar with feeling angry. When it is combined with physical restlessness it can be deadly. Inability to sit and focus on work, inability to complete tasks in hand, poor / disturbed sleep, irritation at small things are clear red flags.
5. Alcohol / Cannabis are now quite commonly used by young adults. Easy accessibility and affordability complicates things. Social acceptance and peer group normalisation adds fuel to fire.

Losing normal checks and balances on assessment of our acts and losing sense of proportion due to heightened emotionality are prime mechanisms by which you are likely to act on emotions. Makes you vulnerable to deadly acts. Towards yourself and others.

6. Loss of personal meaning in work, social / emotional disconnect, access to deadly means (high risk for doctors) and loneliness are HUGE red flags.
7. Philosophical discourses are unlikely to help. Professional help is your best chance if any combination of all the above factors is present.
8. Most doctors see psychiatrists is poor light. They would rather go to spiritual guru than seek help from psychiatrists.
   “Weakness” still reigns as supreme cause of mental illness in minds of doctors and public alike.
   This stigma is unfortunate and real in medical professionals.
9. All i can say is –
   NOBODY is immune to suicidal thoughts. Everyone gets them sometimes in the life.
   Realising vulnerability and getting help WORKS.

Please do not hesitate to help yourself and people around you.

🙏🏻