Risk of suicide bedevils male students

Academic stress, financial pressures amidst a lack of psychological counselling have instigated incidents of suicide a

PESHAWAR:

"Our son will get us out of poverty." For a rural family drowning in the vicious cycle of poverty and debt, sending a son to study outside the hometown is often seen as the tried and tested route towards escaping economic deprivation and achieving a better standard of living for the entire family unit.

Although higher education in general is associated with increased levels of stress and anxiety, the intersection of factors like economic status, societal expectations and fixed gender roles multiplies the likelihood of severe mental illnesses arising among the youth, particularly those identifying with the male gender.

Case in point are the recent suicide incidents reported at the Harding Hostel of the Islamia College in Peshawar where three male students were found dead in their hostel rooms.

The most recent case was that of Zia Uddin, a senior from the Law Department, who through a suicide note conveyed the degree of hopelessness which forced him to take his own life.

In the letter, which was written to his parents, Zia assured that he was not a forlorn lover choosing to kill himself after a heartbreak but instead had taken the decision since he had lost hope in life and no longer wanted to live. Zia's friends found him hanging to the fan in his hostel room early in the morning.

"Zia hailed from Upper Dir and was among the most brilliant students in our class. The boy's family and the university at large are still in shock over his death," said a fellow hostelite.

Dr Dilnawaz Khan, President of the Islamia College Teachers Association revealed that before the suicide attempt, Zia had called a classmate at midnight, clearly mentioning that this might be their last correspondence.

"This is not the first incident reported at the Islamia College. A committee has been formed to investigate this matter while a police investigation is also under process," said Dr Khan.

Commenting on the matter, Dr Shahnawaz Khan, Assistant Professor at the Islamia College believed that the recent cases of suicide among male students at the varsity indicated the overlap of multiple factors including socio-economic difficulties.

"Islamia College has a tough semester schedule due to which most students face persistent exam stress. Furthermore, many students also experience financial hardship and overall insecurity. To relieve their anxiety, students have little or no opportunities for recreation since the three recreation halls are no longer hosting extracurricular activities and events," explained Dr Shahnawaz.

On the other hand, Dr Muhammad Sultan, Former Head of the Psychiatry Department at the Khyber Teaching Hospital, while speaking to the Express Tribune, revealed that suicidal ideation was more common among men than women all across the globe.

"Approximately 70 per cent of suicides occur due to depression while drug abuse among college and university students can also be a contributing factor. Most importantly, the demands and expectations of parents often times are so high that when the boys are unable to fulfil them, they have no choice but to end their lives. Domestic disputes and heartbreak are also some of the reasons behind suicide among boys.

Therefore, it is pertinent

to offer psychological counselling to college and university students in order to boost their

mental capacity so that they are equipped to handle any kind of stressful situation," implored Dr Sultan.