K-P struggles with suicide cases

Experts concerned about increase in mental health issues

PESHAWAR:

The untimely death of a child is the worst nightmare for parents. Some never recover from the sudden loss and others just learn to live with it.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), deaths by suicide, especially among the young, appear to be rising for a variety of reasons. Two months ago, Muhammad Basit decided to end his life. Just outside Peshawar, in the area of Yakatoot, his parents are still reeling from the sudden death of their only son.

Still at high school, Basit took his life over a minor disagreement at home. Late that night, his parents woke up to the sound of gunfire. Little did they know that the bullet took their only son away.

Basit is not the only one. Even while K-P ranks third on the nation-wide suicide rate chart, the province has witnessed an increase in the number of cases, particularly among the young.

Two months ago, in the same area, 16-year-old Aizaz Mehtab also ended his life abruptly after a dispute with his parents. The case was registered within the limits of Yakatoot Police station.

In October alone, four young students committed suicide in the provincial capital. Family members said they were under enormous pressure. Some were facing peer pressure and others couldn’t cope up with the academic challenges.

“Number of suicide cases have increased significantly in K-P. Those who commit suicide are mostly between the age of 10 and 20,” said Dr. Khalid Mufti, a veteran Peshawar-based psychiatrist.

Dr. Mufti listed social pressure as the number one reason behind most cases. “The biggest reason is depression which is not even considered as a disease in our country,” said Dr. Mufti, who runs a mental health clinic in the provincial capital.

According to reports collected from various police stations, more than 69 suicide cases were reported in the provincial capital over the last 10 months. More than 30 survived with some injuries.

Data gathered from local hospitals shows the youngest victim was 10 and the oldest was 20-years-old. On the national level, K-P had the lowest suicide rate at 8.9% during 2012 - 2017. Sindh took the top spot during the same period with 52%. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), which documents such cases, reported 90% of deaths by suicide are due to some form of mental illness. Doctors believe most of these issues are ignored by members of the family.

While there is no official database for the overall number of suicide cases in Pakistan, the HRCP reports suggest that the rate has steadily increased since 2015. In 2017, the total number of suicide cases documented by the HRCP stood at 3,500 from all over the country.

Health experts believe individuals are forced to consider the option of ending their lives due to a wide variety of reason. From failing in life to failing in the classroom, people have committed suicide for all sorts of reasons. Some, they said, commit suicide by consuming toxic chemicals. Others have used weapons and even suicide by hanging, which appears to be the more conventional method of ending life.

In K-P experts said more than 60% of those who committed suicide are young women and under the age of 20. According to Dr. Mufti, violent virtual games, have also emerged as a reason for the increase in suicide cases in the province. Known as PlayerUnknown Battlegrounds, and commonly referred to as PUBG, the gaming technology, Dr. Mufti said, promotes violence and even triggers suicide.

According to psychologists in K-P, mental health issues have doubled over the years. “While we have witnessed an increase in such cases, government appears to be missing in action. They need to spend more on mental health facilities in the province,” urged one medical practitioner, who was speaking on the condition of anonymity.

He said the government must invest more in creating outdoor facilities for children. “They need to stay away from screens and be more active,” he cautioned.

Experts believe about 25% of the population suffers from some form of mental illness. Depression, they said, tops the charts in Pakistan. “It needs to be considered as a disease by families,” insisted one expert.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 26^th, 2020.