The second highest cause of death is ‘suicide’. A majority of the suicides are driven by severe depression due to substance abuse and mental illness. The incidence of suicides is very high in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
“The number of suicides ranges between 25 and 28 for a lakh population in South India as against the national average of 13. Anything above 25 suicides per lakh is considered very high,” says Prof. Roy Abraham Kallivayalil, Secretary General of the World Psychiatric Association.
Mental health is an important part of general health and mental disorders account for significant morbidity and disability affecting the quality of lives significantly. The Mental Health Bill decriminalises suicide on the presumption of ‘severe stress in case of attempted suicide’. Further, the bill also gives the right to a person with mental illness on how he/she wants to be treated for the illness and can even nominate a representative to act on his/her behalf.
“ECT (Electro Convulsive Therapy) is given, under anaesthesia, to those suffering from depression. This is commonly known as ‘shock treatment’ and it ‘shocks’ people. While medication and counselling can help patients in the early stages, ECT is the only solution in severe cases of depression and those showing suicidal tendencies. Further, it gives very high recovery chances with quick results,” says Prof. Roy.
“Allowing a patient or a representative chosen by him/her to decide on the course of treatment could have disastrous consequences,” he adds.
B. Madhu Gopal