Thinker , Social and Legal Activist on advisories on family law in India, Evolutionary Developmental Feminist, Social Activist and Campaigner for Women's Rights, Multiple State, National Award Winner and Internationally acclaimed Multiple World Record Holder, Renowned name in Contemporary Literature Authoress Mayaa SH speaks on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention..
How will you introduce yourself to the audience ?
Mayaa SH : Well, I am a person engaged passionately with what I correlate with and my understanding of it is expressed through my writing and my experience of being aligned to looking at ways to encourage and motivate many women . In both facets, I endeavour to look at the same set of global trends considering the potential direct, indirect and long-term impacts of a few stresses on people, particularly women and vulnerable groups… we as “women” as a community where are we heading towards and how do we build ourselves continuously as an individual first ?
How do suicidal thoughts culminate in our mind ?
Suicide is defined as death caused by self-directed injurious behavior with intent to die as a result of the behavior. Often people who are considering suicide are dealing with a combination of mental ill-health and difficult life events. Symptoms such as very low mood, negative thinking, severe anxiety, and psychosis (Psychosis refers to a collection of symptoms that affect the mind, where there has been some loss of contact with reality. During an episode of psychosis, a person's thoughts and perceptions are disrupted and they may have difficulty recognizing what is real and what is not that can lead to suicidal thoughts.) Researchers believe that some people who end their own lives do not actually want to die, but feel there is no other option to relieve them of their pain. Some might experience a sense of hopelessness, and feel that things cannot get better. Those who do take their own life may feel overwhelmed, seeking release from their distress. But with effective treatment, social support and time, many who have tried to end their life, or considered ending their life, can go on to live full and meaningful lives. It is important to understand that suicide is the result of many factors in a person’s life and not one particular event or discussion. Suicide is complex: there is no single explanation. Aside from mental health conditions, contributing factors to being at risk of suicide may include: People with anxiety and depression are more likely to take their own lives than other people.
Depression is a major cause of suicide, however not everyone with depression is suicidal. Similarly, not everyone who takes their own life has depression.
• substance abuse
• chronic health issues, pain or physical disability
• feelings of isolation or helplessness
• loss
• negative life events (abuse, significant loss, financial crisis)
• previous suicide attempt or exposure to suicide behaviour in others.
• history of mental health conditions – such as depression, anxiety, bipolar and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• relationship problems – such as conflict with parents or romantic partners
• legal or disciplinary problems
• access to harmful means, such as medication or weapons
• recent death of a family member or a close friend
Can suicide can be combated ?
Yes definitely , suicide can be combated for sure hundred percent . Expression of suicidal thoughts, is referred to as "suicidal ideation" by mental health professionals. There is no "typical suicidal person." If you are feeling suicidal it is likely that you have felt increasingly hopeless and worthless for some time. You may not know what has caused you to feel this way but it is often a combination of factors. Struggling to cope with certain difficulties in your life can cause you to feel suicidal. These difficulties may include:
• Mental health problems
• Bullying, prejudice or stigma, such as relating to your race, gender, disability or sexual identity
• Different types of abuse, including domestic, sexual or physical abuse
• Bereavement, including losing a loved one to suicide
• The end of a relationship
• Long-term physical pain or illness
• Adjusting to a big change, such as retirement or redundancy
• Money problems
• Housing problems, including homelessness
• Isolation or loneliness
• Being in prison
• Feeling inadequate or a failure
• Addiction or substance abuse
• Pregnancy, childbirth or postnatal depression
• Doubts about your sexual or gender identity
• Cultural pressure, such as forced marriage
• Society's expectations, for example to
act a certain way or achieve certain things
• Other forms of trauma
However, there are several behaviors that can indicate that a person is seriously considering suicide. These include:
• talking about committing suicide and preoccupation with death and dying
• trouble eating or sleeping and noticeable change in personal appearance
• loss of interest in work, school, or hobbies and withdrawal from social activities, friends, and family
• experiencing or expecting a significant personal loss (spouse or other)
• drastic change in behavior, often taking unnecessary risks as if they didn't care what happened
• increased use of alcohol and drugs
• signs of preparing for death-making funeral arrangements or giving away prized possessions
• the most significant indicator is an expression of suicidal intent.
• Any combination of these actions might alert both family and friends that a person is struggling with life and considering suicide as an option.
Some medications, such as antidepressants, can cause some people to experience suicidal feelings. This side effect is often associated with a type of antidepressant called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). But all antidepressants have this as a possible risk.Some research shows that young people under the age of 25 are more likely to experience suicidal feelings when taking these medications.
Some antipsychotic medications and mood stabilisers also cause some people to experience suicidal feelings.
What are the suicide warning signs and the way to responding to such signs ?
Suicide Warning Signs:
Someone who is thinking about suicide will usually give some clues or signs to people around them, though these may be subtle. Everyone is different and there is no definitive way to predict how someone will act, but suicide prevention starts with recognising the warning signs and taking them seriously. These may include:
• a sense of hopelessness or no hope for the future
• isolation or feeling alone – “No one understands me.”
• aggressiveness and irritability – “Leave me alone.”
• possessing lethal means – medication, weapons
• negative view of self – “I am worthless.”
• drastic changes in mood and behaviour
• frequently talking about death – “If I died would you miss me?”
• self-harming behaviours like cutting
• engaging in 'risky' behaviours – “I’ll try anything, I’m not afraid to die."
• making funeral arrangements
• giving things away (clothes, expensive gifts) – “When I am gone, I want you to have this.”
• substance abuse
• feeling like a burden to others – “You would be better off without me.”
• making suicide threats – “Sometimes I feel like I just want to die.”.
Responding to Suicide Warning Signs include :
Speak up if you are worried that someone may be thinking about suicide. Talking to someone about their suicidal thoughts can be challenging but if you think someone might be thinking about killing themselves, the best way to find out is to ask.You will not be putting the idea in someone’s head if you ask if they are thinking about suicide. In fact, giving a suicidal person the opportunity to express their feelings can give relief from isolation and pent-up negative feelings, and may in fact reduce the risk of suicide.
What is the stigma around suicide and what can you do to prevent suicide ?
Society always judges as no two opinions are the same. Stigma around suicide can be due to a lack of understanding of the complexity of suicide.Stigma can be based on negative beliefs or attitudes. Stigma can lead to a person feeling embarrassed, misunderstood and marginalised.Stigma is when a person is viewed negatively or is discredited and, as a result, is treated differently. Recognise the signs when someone needs help. It’s not always possible to know when someone needs help, but there are suicide warning signs that you can look out for. Try to move past any discomfort you may feel about how to help. Act on those thoughts and concerns, as your help could make all the difference.
• Raise your voice. People with lived experience shouldn’t be expected to carry this weight alone. Tackling the stigma and busting the myths around suicide is a part we can all play.
• Examine your thought processes and understanding. Are they right? Could you be more sensitive and non-judgmental?
• Your words matter. Use safe and inclusive language to avoid alienating anyone. For example, instead of using “committed suicide”, you can say, “took their own life” or “died by suicide”. Mindframe has a short language guide with more examples.
• Use your social networks to discuss suicide prevention openly, share content on social media, and spread the word.
Seven Things You Can Do to Reduce Stigma
1. Know the facts. Educate yourself about mental illness including substance use disorders.
2. Be aware of your attitudes and behaviour. ...
3. Choose your words carefully. ...
4. Educate others. ...
5. Focus on the positive. ...
6. Support people. ...
7. Include everyone.
Talk openly about mental health. Social media has become a great space for positivity. Educate yourself and others – respond to misperceptions or negative comments by sharing facts and experiences. Be conscious of language and remind people that words matter.
What are the specific demographics that are vulnerable for suicide ?
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young adults worldwide. There is a growing recognition that prevention strategies need to be tailored to the region-specific demographics of a country and to be implemented in a culturally-sensitive manner.Regarding trends, similar to most countries around the world, suicide rates are generally higher among males compared to females in India. Males have higher suicide rates in middle and older ages (male suicides increased further last year. One of the reasons could be rising unemployment and economic downslide following the pandemic. Male members, being the major bread-earners of the family, bore the maximum brunt of economic debacle through pay cuts, interruptions of payment or, in worst cases, loss of jobs. This is further supported by the fact that out of a total of 1,18,979 male suicides, the maximum number of suicides were carried out by daily wage earners followed by self- employed persons. )while the age group of 15–29 years has the highest suicide rate among females. The rates of suicide have greatly increased among youth, and youth are now the group at highest risk in one-third of the developed and developing countries. The emerging phenomenon of “cyber-suicide” in the internet era is a further cause for concern. Among the females who committed suicide, the highest number involved “Marriage Related Issues” (specifically “Dowry Related Issues”) and in terms of profession, homemakers constituted the highest number. Thus, social issues including gender inequality and dowry practices continue to make marriage stressful to Indian women rather than protective as portrayed by Western studies.The age group of 18 to <30 years and persons of 30 to <45 years of age accounted for 34.5% and 31.7% of total suicides, respectively. A significant proportion of these individuals were students. As many as 13,039 students died of suicide. The highest percentage of suicides consistently occurring in the young, productive population of the country over the years calls for serious action from the Union and the State governments.
What are few helplines numbers for suicide prevention in India ?
HELPLINE FOUNDATIONS:
AASRA a suicide prevention organization founded in 1998, functions as a part of the “Befrienders Worldwide Initiative” and is a 24×7 helpline for people who need emergency support. Located in Mumbai, this organization trains volunteers to manage the helpline for at least 6 months. Touted as a crisis intervention center for the distressed and suicidal, they also conduct workshops at different levels for high-risk groups of students at schools and colleges and stressed workers at organizations. People with empathy from all walks of life are welcome to volunteer at Aasra to make a difference. Registered as a public charity, donations to Aasra help the organization increase the number of volunteers to prevent suicide.
SUICIDE PREVENTION INDIA FOUNDATION is also one of the primary NGOs aimed at mental health awareness for at-risk people. They run two primary campaigns, wherein the first campaign focuses on creating awareness, acceptance, and taking action to prevent suicide, called “Ssh…out”; the second campaign is the the “Circle of Protection” campaign known to protect children and teenagers from the risk of suicide and self-harm.
LIFELINE FOUNDATION ,founded in Kolkata, the Lifeline Foundation is recognized worldwide for its unique initiative of volunteers visiting welfare societies and correction homes. Their primary motto is fighting suicide at the societal and systemic level by breaking the stigma associated with suicide. They also conduct mental health awareness and well-being workshops at various societies and homes. They also promote networking and collaboration of mental health NGOs with organizations primarily working towards suicide prevention.
SUMAITRI is a volunteer-run organization in Delhi that was started in 1988 and has helped more than 1 lakh people through calls and visits. The uniqueness of Sumaitri is that it is run 365 days, 24×7, by volunteers who dedicate at least 5 hours every week to crisis intervention.
What impact does technology have on cybersuicide cases?
Yes ,definitely social media has a huge impact on lives , Cybersuicide is a term used in reference to suicide and its ideations on the Internet. Cybersuicide is associated with websites that lure vulnerable members of society and empower them with various methods and approaches to deliberate self-harm. Ease of accessibility to the Internet and the rate at which information is dispersed contribute to the promotion of 'offing' one's self which is particularly appealing to adolescents. Search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Wikipedia, we investigated the differentiations between 'web cam' suicide, 'net suicide packs', sites that merely offer advice on how to commit suicide and sites that are essential in providing the means of performing the act.
There is a correlation between cyberbullying and suicide. According to the findings, cyber-bullying increases suicidal thoughts by 14.5 percent and suicide attempts by 8.7 percent. Particularly alarming is the fact that children and young people under 25 who are victims of cyberbullying are more than twice as likely to self-harm and engage in suicidal behavior. Overall, teen suicide rates have increased within the past decade. Cyber-bullying led the victim to commit suicide; this phenomenon is now known as “Cyberbullicide.” With the rise of social media, the risk of falling victim to blackmail has also increased. It has been deemed a major health concern for affected teens and a major health threat to those affected by the psychological trauma inflicted by perpetrators on social media. Interactions via chat rooms or discussion forums may foster peer pressure to die by suicide, encourage users to idolize those who have died by suicide, or facilitate suicide pacts. Recently there has been a trend in creating memorial social media pages in honor of a deceased person.
How can individuals educate themselves on mental health and challenges ?
When we embark on the journey of self-discovery and self-awareness, we open the door to personal growth and transformation.By becoming knowledgeable about mental health conditions, we deepen our understanding not only of ourselves but also of others. Educating ourselves about mental health equips us with coping strategies and self-care techniques. We can learn practical tools to manage stress, regulate emotions and improve our overall well-being.In addition, by educating ourselves, we can become better allies to those around us who may be experiencing mental health challenges. We can offer support, understanding, and empathy, creating a network of care and strengthening meaningful connections.This increased awareness helps us develop empathy and compassion for those who may be going through similar challenges. It allows us to create a supportive and understanding environment around us, fostering stronger connections and relationships.Moreover, as we recognize and understand our own mental and emotional states, we gain valuable insights into our strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.
• Promoting positive conversations around mental health is indeed one of the essential reasons why being educated about mental health is so important. By increasing our knowledge and understanding, we can contribute to a more compassionate and supportive society where mental health is prioritised and stigma is reduced.
• Understanding mental health conditions allows us to recognize and respond to early signs and symptoms. Just as with physical health, early intervention is key to preventing conditions from escalating and causing more significant distress. When we are aware of the potential warning signs, we can take proactive steps to seek support and treatment, leading to better outcomes and faster recovery.
• Always maintaining a positive outlook in ;life and thinking that there is always a solution to every problem in life .
What is the message you would want to give to people and specially the youth ?
The essence of life is your absolute truth. Once you embrace the essence, life becomes meaningful.Always believe in the beauty of your dreams and keep moving forward as life is one long journey . In simplest terms life should give peace, make you feel alive and serve your purpose. For some it can be to bring peace or to spread love. It can also be to aspire growth or to touch million lives. you have a dream or dreams that you have yet to realize in your life. Dreams inspire us and give us hope. They also challenge us to grow as people in many different ways. When we don’t quit, when we push past the hard parts, we develop resilience. We start to develop the habit of picking ourselves up and trying again. Every time that you don’t quite get there, that you don’t give up, you get one step closer to your goal or dream.Believe in the beauty of your dreams and never give up .Combat Fear and be Courageous . You may cry, you may fall along the way and have to have someone else coach you up along the way. But the important thing is that you keep going. In the end, it does not matter how long it took you to get there, what matters is that you catch your dream – because you didn’t quit.
About The Author
Mayaa SH is a Championer of Women’s Rights, Authoress, Public Intellectual, and a
former corporate juggernaut, Mayaa SH is a recognised crusader on Indian’s
contemporary verve of economics, freedom of the press, gender neutrality and human
rights, Mayaa has authored 14 bestselling works essayed as self help books and coauthored more than 150 books. She is a multi National and State Award Winner and has
numerous accolades that have won her global recognition as well. Her power of self belief has helped many across the country to rediscover and reignite with themselves.
This has institutionalised her infinite belief in “The Power Of A Determined Mind” and helped provide respite to many with her talks.Mayaa SH, is a literary luminary and is a
fierce advocate for women's empowerment and positive feminism. Recognized by the
United Nations, she challenges societal norms and addresses gender inequality. With
over 150 anthologies and fourteen solo books to her credit, Mayaa SH envisions a society where women have equal rights, contributing to the nation's development. Her impactful
contributions resonate globally, inspiring change.
Mayaa SH, a literary powerhouse and advocate for women’s empowerment, challenges
societal norms through her bold narratives. Her writings, breaking stereotypes, echo
gender inclusivity, earning global acclaim and multiple awards. Addressing women’s
daily challenges and advocating for equal rights, she navigates stress and inspires hope
through her self-help books, expertly discussing sensitive issues like suicide prevention.
Mayaa’s direct storytelling, rooted in culture, deeply resonates, reflecting intimate human
dilemmas. Her significance as a feminist icon lies in her fearless transgression of boundaries and her ability to voice the feminine perspective, making her an essential force in contemporary literature...
