By Steve A. Morrell

Sri Lanka’s suicide rate dipped to 3,000 in 2019 from an alarming 8,000 per annum in 1995, which was considered the highest in the world at the time, says Dr. Pushpa Ranasinghe, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

It was salutary that suicides in the country saw a gradual decline over the years since then (1995) to settle at 3,000 in 2019. Studies show that suicides are now prevalent more among older people than younger persons, she told a recent discussion initiated by Airtel on mental health in Sri Lanka.

Dr. Ranasinghe said the widespread use of mobile phones and texting for help were instrumental in reducing suicides among young persons. However, this was not of note among older people, both men and women.

Sri Lanka now occupies the 31st position in terms of recorded suicides, she said, adding that the prevalence of suicides among older people is extremely disappointing.

World-wide, the recorded number of suicides was around 800,000 annually, which meant there was a suicide case every 40 seconds, she elaborated.

The primary reason for the increase of suicides among older people was that families usually have no time for the elderly. Loneliness, family isolation, relegated to a corner of the house and not being spoken to, were all symptoms that lead to many such people taking their own lives, Dr. Ranasinghe further said.

Alcohol was also a contributory factor for suicides among older persons, who do not access or take recourse to counseling, thereby leading to despair, she noted.

Strangulation and hanging were the common methods among this group of people to take their own lives. Unlike the elderly, young people were aware of the alarming consequences and are more prone to seek counseling, which Dr. Ranasinghe said, was available on a 24-hour basis.

The NIMH and Sri Lanka Sumithrayo have trained personnel to handle counseling around the clock. The NIMH receives 12,000 calls per year seeking help and advise in any developing circumstance. Positive responses to those seeking advise helped to reduce suicides, she added.

Managing Director, Airtel, Asish Chandra, who addressed participants via an online video call, said 3,000 to 5,000 lives are lost each year due to suicides. It was gratifying to note that more people are now seeking counseling, which is available online as well. Counseling is handled by trained personnel involving doctors and nurses.

It also emerged at the panel discussion that incest among the estate population was also a cause for suicides.

Dr. Ranasinghe said the voice based hotline 1926 could also be used to seek counseling and advice.