Breakups drives the young to suicides

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">BANGALORE: Glam girl Nafisa Joseph''s suicide has shaken many a middle class families which have aspiring children. Bangalore has recorded a staggering 363 cases of suicide among females till July this year.<br /> <br />City also registers most number of cases of attempted suicides in the age group of 16 to 30 years.The city''s biggest reason for attempted suicide in this age group is increasing casual involvement with the opposite sex. A very big number of attempted suicides does not go into record books; only 10 per cent of the cases of attempted suicide get psychiatric counselling.<br /><br />The city better face it. Parental and societal discipline, which was so scrupulously adhered to in the city a few years ago, is fast deteriorating with teenagers and young adolescents redefining rules of living. This has led to drastic changes in the city''s social set-up, leading to increasing number of suicide cases among girls, declare psychiatrists.<br /><br />It''s a fast-paced phenomenon because Bangalore is getting more cosmopolitan and multi-cultural by the year, says senior consultant psychiatrist at Manipal Hospital Dr S G Muraliraj, who receives at least four cases of girls attempting suicide every week.<br /><br />The biggest reason for suicides among girls is break-ups of love affairs, followed by reasons such as scoring low grades, peer pressure, work pressure and marital disharmony among parents etc. "Suicides for break-ups or broken engagement is mostly seen in the age group of 16-24 years as these young girls are forced to handle such situations without adequate family support," Muraliraj says.<br /><br />The number of cases attempted suicides is high among girls because it is a way of attracting attention, although in their heart of hearts in most cases, there is fear of death and its aftermath. "Many perceive it as a heroic deed," says clinical psychologist Sujendra Prakash.<br /><br />Even as the patient is rushed to a hospital after attempting suicide, many fail to register it as an attempt to suicide as it would have medico-legal ramifications. "So several patients do not even seek the crucial psychiatric help," say specialists. <br /><br /><br /></div> </div><div class="section2"><div class="Normal"><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">How can parents and society help? </span><br /><br />Neither be over-protective nor be over-punitive to their ''mistakes''.<br /><br />Employers and their HR team should take charge of their employees and counsel them regularly.<br /><br />Parents and well wishers should watch out for possible signs of contemplating suicide.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Possible signs of persons contemplating suicide: </span><br /><br />Poor sleep/appetite for more than two days. <br /><br />Talking less than usual, withdrawn. <br /><br />Stop making plans for the future/not enjoying daily activities. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Female suicide cases in Bangalore City:</span><br /><br />2004 Jan- July -- 363.<br /><br />2003 -- 608. <br /><br />2002 -- 619. </div> </div>