World Suicide Prevention Day: Women leave loopholes, men cruel during suicide

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It is not unknown that most of the suicide victim in Kerala and elsewhere on the globe are men. Psychologists say this is mostly because women more often leave loopholes during suicide attempts and male victims are crueller to themselves. “Slitting wrong part of the hand, leaving the door open etc. are more likely in women’s case. They make suicide attempts to shock people around. However, men do not leave loopholes and die more often,” said Vishnu V. They say the single biggest reasons for suicides were impulsivity.

“We don’t necessarily need a counsellor to stop suicide. Anyone who can listen to what the depressed people have to say can stop,” said counsellor Deebu Abey John. The potential suicide victims tend to reduce social interaction and withdraw to their own world before committing suicide. Ironically, the advent of social media has made it easier to identify suicidal tendency.

“More often victims post on meaningless of life, depression, etc. Though most people who upload them are unlikely to commit suicide, talking to such people can help,” Vishnu V. added. On the eve of World Suicide Prevention Day on Sunday, the psychologists organised awareness drive across the state capital. On Thursday, they conducted anti-suicide vigil programmes at Kanakakunnu and six public places in Chirayinkeezhu. Suicide is the third largest reason for death globally. Kerala and neighbouring Tamil Nadu had often had the dubious distinction of being the most suicide prone states.