BENGALURU: Reacting to the story ‘Prisoners of depression fight a lonely battle’ in which The New Indian Express threw light on the lack of measures at Bengaluru Central Prison in Parappana Agrahara to deal with depression and mental illness among inmates (April 7 edition), NIMHANS Director B N Gangadhar said, “Suicide has many determinants. Mental illness is one of them. Suicide is a potentially preventable one.
Listening to the distressed empathetically is helpful in reducing the risk of suicide in most individuals. Other treatments in addition to counselling are required for some. Social system of being alert on the forerunners of a suicide attempt in the individual is helpful. Most individuals would have expressed this intent. Prompt and preventive intervention is hence possible if such expressions are detected. Early identification of at-risk subjects is needed.
For example, those who had made an earlier attempt, those who had similar family history, individuals dependent on drugs of abuse, severely depressed and those facing enormous stress that has gripped them almost suddenly. Individuals living alone and away from their kin face a higher risk. Increasing awareness on suicide, its impact on society, the methods to seek help, availability of helplines, providing a supportive environment and abstinence from drug abuse are needed to combat this disaster.”