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THREAD: Troubled by many media reports & SM conversations where depression + mental health issues are assumed to be only causes of #suicide
Of course, we need conversations on #Mentalhealth & depression is associated with suicide. Why am I then bothered by this? Read on..1/n
Of course, we need conversations on #Mentalhealth & depression is associated with suicide. Why am I then bothered by this? Read on..1/n
In the West, studies show that ~ 80% of suicides have depression as a predisposing cause. Also in West, suicides peak is mostly older ppl (>60 yrs) + male:ratio is ~ 4: 1.
However India& #39;s suicide epidemology is different. In India, only ~50% have some mental illness...2/n
However India& #39;s suicide epidemology is different. In India, only ~50% have some mental illness...2/n
Also our peak suicides are in age group of 18-39 yrs + male:female ratio is ~ 1.5:1. So a lot of young Indian women dying of suicides.1 out of 3 women dying of suicide 
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌍" title="Europa-Afrika auf dem Globus" aria-label="Emoji: Europa-Afrika auf dem Globus"> are Indian. For women in this age group, suicides is No 1 cause of death, ahead of maternal mortality..3/n
Of these Indian women, ~ 1/3 have a history of #domesticviolence Research shows that while some have depression, many don& #39;t. Frequently, suicide/attempt is the only way out of an intolerable situation. But media + professionals don& #39;t talk about #domesticviolence & suicide...4/n
What about men dying of suicide in India? Again research shows that #alcohol is implicated in ~1/3 of cases. Either under influence or history of alcohol use disorder. But media+professionals do not talk about #alcohol & suicides...5/n
These 2 are also interlinked. #Alcohol use/misuse by partners is associated with↑risk of #DomesticViolence for women. So addressing alcohol is equally important for addressing women& #39;s #suicides But this is rarely the focus of media +SM conversations about suicide...6/n
Take children esp 14/15 yr olds. Education stress, Board exams, parental pressure. Important reasons for suicide. What we need is a reform of education system. Like this one below. Education policy changes will have more impact than anything else on young ppl& #39;s suicides...7/n
Talking of young people, what about #LGBTQIA ? Young ppl navigating alternative sexuality in our country are at high risk for #suicide but we rarely talk about them in the context of #suicideprevention If we want to ↓suicides shouldn& #39;t we address this vulnerable group? ...8/n
Another thing we don& #39;t talk, nor does media is #caste discrimination & it& #39;s impact on ppl& #39;s lives leading to #suicides That& #39;s another group who are airbrushed out of conversation when the focus is only #depression ....9/n
And the perpetually suffering - #Farmers The economic distress in the farming sector is more responsible for farmer suicides than depression alone.
For all above groups, depression is only the final common pathway. It& #39;s like saying a person died of cardiovascular failure...10/n
For all above groups, depression is only the final common pathway. It& #39;s like saying a person died of cardiovascular failure...10/n
which is just the proximate cause of death due to many illnesses. In fact, 9/10 with depression won& #39;t die of suicide
So by all means talk about #Depression but also abt #domesticviolence #alcohol #sexuality #education #economics when you talk of suicides. Don& #39;t dumb it down..END
So by all means talk about #Depression but also abt #domesticviolence #alcohol #sexuality #education #economics when you talk of suicides. Don& #39;t dumb it down..END
