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| Sunday, 5 September 2004 |
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Suicide : Not a means to an end by Indunil Thenuwara Sri Lanka, which at one time held the dubious distinction of having the highest suicide rate in the world, has now achieved some progress on this front. The number of suicides, which was 8,550 in 1995, had gradually declined and was 4,750 in 2003. This is a result of the various recommendations enacted by the Suicide Prevention Task Force created by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, said Nalini Ellawala, Founder Director, Sri Lanka Sumithrayo. The task force, comprising various government and non-government personnel, was appointed in 1995 to tackle the spiralling suicide rate. Among the strategies and recommendations made by the task force were reducing the availability of insecticides and weedicides for which Sri Lankans, being an agricultural community, had easy access to, and creating awareness about the storage of such items; trying to change community attitudes and perceptions about suicide through seminars and workshops; creating awareness among the media so that they do not 'glorify' suicides but portrayed its negative side instead; changing the law so that suicide is no longer considered a criminal offence; medical management - networking among medical establishments to take quick action regarding victims and changing the attitudes of medical staff towards victims; setting up experimental support centres similar to Sumithrayo and analyse their effectiveness in the prevention of suicides; and setting up a permanent research centre to deal with the issue. "Except for the last, all other measures have now been implemented; the suicide rate has declined as a result. The research centre was to be set up as a collaboration between Sumithrayo and the Colombo and Peradeniya Universities. We need this for the long-term sustainability of the project and to address the issue on a regular basis," she said. "Although the actual suicide rate has declined, attempted suicides have not. Going to grass roots level and schools and creating awareness that suicide is not a means to an end is the need of the hour. We should try to change harmful beliefs such as rationalising suicides. It should not be politicised either," Ellawala said. Suicide is the outcome of multiple reasons; biological, sociological and psychological. About 30 per cent of victims kill themselves due to their inability to cope with negative feelings; about 40 per cent due to depression or schizophrenia; and the other 30 per cent due to drug dependency. About 30 per cent of the victims are below 30 years of age and most of them turn to suicide as a means of manipulating elders. Although more women attempt suicide, more men actually kill themselves. Women attempting suicide to threaten family members is said to be a reason for this, she said. Different responses like counselling, specialist help and medical treatment are needed when tackling suicide attempts, depending on the reasons for the attempt. "People attempting suicide are sick, immature or foolish. It should be treated likewise and not portrayed as a way out. Schools can also play a leading role by instilling healthy life skills in students. Although much has been achieved, we cannot afford to lie back and give ourselves congratulatory pats on the back as much more needs to be done," Ellawala said. |
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