Spate of post unlock suicides blamed on financial crisis

Nagpur: Twenty-five-year-old Anant Shukla hanged himself in his roadside fruit shop at Suraj Nagar on June 6, after he realized that his hard-earned Rs20,000 had been stolen. Autorickshaw driver Gajanan Lonkar committed suicide after a person from whom he had taken Rs10,000 loan during lockdown demanded keys and papers of his autorickshaw against the loan amount. Taju Sheikh (30) hanged himself after he failed to get any work during unlock phase. In the last two weeks of unlock, Nagpur city has seen more than 50 such suicides.
Records maintained by the Suicide Prevention Campaign, an initiative run by activist Rahul Motwani, most of those who took the extreme step in June were breadwinners of the family. The average age group is 35-40 years, and they committed suicide due to financial reasons.
“In the week between June 9 and 16, 25 persons committed suicides. More than 80% of them were due to financial crisis. Youngsters from families who struggle for daily bread and butter are committing suicide,” said Motwani. Suicides are being reported from all parts of the city.
“Be it Gittikhadan, Koradi, Amabazari, Hudkeshwar, Sonegaon – almost every police station has reported suicide cases in June. We have reports from Nagpur city only. But suicides are happening everywhere,” he added.
Reasons for suicides post unlock are very serious. The struggle to regain lost jobs, unable to repay debts taken during lockdown, thefts, and forceful recovery by anti-social elements are some of them.
Senior pulmonologist Dr Ashok Arbat had TOI that 40% of people will face psychiatric problems due to the loss of a family member, money, and jobs during Covid second wave. “Domestic violence, loneliness, professional burnout, post-traumatic stress etc are making people restless,” he said.
Consultant psychiatrist Dr Suleman Virani said, “We are in the midst of mental health epidemic.”
“What is on record are the number of suicides, but at least 40 times more suicide attempts are not documented. The 15-29 age group is most vulnerable,” said Dr Virani, adding that 1 in 7 people is suffering from mental health issues post-Covid with depression, stress, finance, study, and relationships being major reasons.
“Loneliness and hopelessness are the drivers for depression and suicide. But remember, depression is curable and suicide is preventable. When you feel like giving up, just remember the reason why you held on for so long,” he said.
BOX
SUICIDES IN JUNE
Six suicides reported in Nagpur on June 9, just after unlock began
On June 14, seven persons committed suicide in Nagpur
Till June 21, about 50 suicides were ‘officially’ reported in city, with suicide notes/messages
Many cases were registered as ‘accidental deaths’, while some went unreported
Doctors have already said that financial crisis, loss of jobs will result in suicides
Counselling can save lives if a person gets it at the right time