65 lakh people at risk of suicide in Bangladesh
World Suicide Prevention Day
Experts at a press conference yesterday said that about 65 lakh people are now at risk of suicide in Bangladesh. Ninety percent of those committed suicide had some mental problems. The tendency to suicide increases when mental problems arise, said eminent psychologist Jannatul Ferdous. She also called for taking steps to prevent the problem from escalating.
In her keynote address, she said the tendency of suicide is more prevalent among the youth aged 25-30. Drug addiction, poverty, family feud, torture, sickness, failure in love and examinations, sexual harassment and unexpected pregnancy are responsible for suicides, she added.
Citing statistics put out by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the speakers informed the conference that about 20,000 people on an average annually resort to self-killing in Bangladesh.
The drug addicts fall in the high-risk category, because they suffer from crisis due to intake of drugs in an uncontrolled way that often leads to depression and indecision.
The failure of the addicts to be free from drugs even after treatment, non-cooperation and suspicion of family members and other mental problems arising from drug addiction are also considered as important reasons behind the risk of suicide, they added.
Ahsania Mission Female Drug Treatment Centre organised the press conference at the Dhaka Ahsania Mission auditorium in Dhanmondi marking the World Suicide Prevention Day.
President of the Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM), Kaji Rafiqul Alam, Deputy Director of DAM and internationally certified addiction councillor, Iqbal Masud, eminent psychologist, Dr. Akhtaruzzaman Selim among others, spoke at the programme. Councillor at the Ahsania Mission Female Drug Treatment Centre Jannatul Ferdous presented the keynote paper.
The speakers further said it is possible to check the increasing trend of self-killing by changing the outlook, fellow-feeling, sympathy and proper counselling. Right decision at the right time by all concerned can bring a positive result in eradicating the bad practice, they said. They also called for providing proper treatment to the affected people.
The affected people should get mental and other supports to prevent suicide. All concerned, including families and educational institutions, should come forward in this regard.
