It is imperative to note that over 90% of the people who commit suicide in Pakistan have a treatable mental illness.
ISLAMABAD: According to a newly released report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), 174 people committed suicide across the country during the last month. Here, I wish to make two points about the HRCP report’s findings. One, that suicide is a public health issue and should not be coupled with criminal activities violating human rights such as honour killings or sexual assault. Secondly, I am disappointed to note that the report projects that the majority of suicides were committed because of “family-related issues” or “financial trouble”.
Although suicide has a complex aetiology and the role of social factors cannot be undermined, it is imperative to note that over 90 per cent of the people who commit suicide in Pakistan have a treatable mental illness. Such reports and the media help raise awareness about the prevalence of suicides but they must also “decriminalise” and, in fact, “medicalise” the issue so that mental illnesses can be detected at the earliest and effectively treated to prevent suicides.
Asma Humayun
Published in The Express Tribune, March 19th, 2013.
