Student jumps to death at Eluru medical college

ELURU: A 24-year-old medico, studying at a medical college at Eluru in West Godavari district, committed suicide by jumping from the third floor of the college late last night.

Eluru rural police said Bhalabhadra Rithesh of Rajahmundry was studying MBBS at the college and was a house surgeon. His father Dr B. Venkata Raju, mother Dr Sujatha and his elder brother Dr Raghuveer are famous doctors in Danavaipet in the Rajahmundry town of East Godavari district in AP.

Eluru rural sub-inspector Subhash said that since some months Rithish was found to be mentally troubled and was taking treatment from a psychologist.
 A case was registered by the police.

Meanwhile, the incident shocked college students. They said that Rithesh was a good person and was doing well in his studies. They said that they do not know why he took the extreme step.

On Wednesday a medico named Sravani of Nizamabad, committed suicide in Hyderabad by injecting an anaesthesia drug. She was a bright student and had leadership qualities, said her professor. Her family donated her eyes.

Counselling must for all medicos
Stress management and psychological counselling is required for medical students, experts said, as the suicide of Osmania Medical college post graduate student Dr B. Shravani sent shockwaves in the college and hospital.

Senior doctors said that she was always very happy and there were no signs of any mood swings or depression in her. When she called her professors in Osmania General Hospital for leave it was a very normal call and did not arouse any suspicion. In the evening they were shocked to learn that she had committed suicide.

Dr P. Naik, a senior doctor at the Osmania General Hospital said, "We are shocked that she didn't come forward and confide in any of the seniors. There is an induction ceremony at the beginning of the term but that deals mostly with introduction to senior professors and the groups that the students are going to be attached with. But beyond that for any problems there are no counsellors in the college who can be approached for problems.

Dr G. Srinivas, president of Junior Doctors Association of OGH explained, "We want friends to be alert as their pro-active nature would have helped to save her. She was a very bold girl and it is very difficult to believe that she has taken this extreme step. Such cases are being seen in medical colleges and it is very important to have quarterly lectures by psychiatrists where the ability to cope with such problems can be discussed. A constant session will also give hope to those who are suffering from trauma to opt out and seek help."

Increasing stress levels, hectic work schedules and very rigorous training is part of the doctor's professional life and if there is personal trauma it can act as a deadly cocktail.