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| Tuesday, 14 September 2004 |
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World Suicide Prevention Day Sep. 10: '75 per cent of suicides reported from rural community' by Anjalie Garnier Approximately one million people commit suicide around the world each year. There is a death in every 40 seconds. In 1995, the suicide rate in Sri Lanka peaked at 47/100,000. Thus we were at the top of the global chart in suicide rates with a record of more than 8,500 suicides. This grave situation led to the formation of a Presidential Task Force to combat escalating suicide rates. "Although mortality rates have reduced in comparison to the 1995 situation, the attempted suicide levels are ten times as high as compared to actual suicides and this is not a healthy sign at all", said Director Mel Medura Nalini Ellawela at a media briefing on 'Role of media in suicide prevention, Community responses, Questioning harmful opinions and beliefs' at Sri Lanka Sumithrayo, Colombo 7 last Tuesday. While listening to, and befriending the distressed are vital factors, through the media, changing community attitudes and values, opinions and beliefs require long term planning, stressed Ellawala. Sri Lanka Sumithrayo established in 1974 has 30 years service in providing emotional support to the suicidal and the depressed in the community has started the Sumithrayo Rural Programme considering the fact that 75 per cent of the suicidal cases are reported from the rural community. Since our rural population is based on agriculture the consumption of insecticide is the most common method of suicide. Taking this fact into consideration, in June 1996 the Sumithrayo commenced work in some of the 28 most suicide prone villages in Panduwasnuwara of the North Western Province. Another thirty similar villages in Lunugamvehera, Tanamalwila and Tissamaharama in the South are also covered by this programme. Ms Ellawala said that depression, Alcohol and drug addiction, lack of confidence and negative feelings are the three major reasons for suicide. "It is so unfortunate that sometimes even suicide attempts have been given wide publicity in the media. Although the media has every right to report a suicide incident please don't try to exaggerate these stories by blowing them out of proportion, so the readers would misunderstand the gravity of the situation. According to statistics more men commit suicide per year though women have made more attempts. Ms. Ellawala speaking about her organisation said the staff of 400 members are all volunteers. "We want more men to join in the counselling activities and there's a dearth of Tamil speaking counsellors too." She condemned the 'fast to death campaigns' and urged the media not to give prominence as it's a cheap way to get things done. The removal of Section 302 of the penal code, to humanize the law and promote a change in attitudes is a major achievement for Sumithrayo and its goals and ideals. Mel Medura was set up in 1984 as an outreach arm of Sri Lanka Sumithrayo (Colombo), Mel Medura services the needs of all Sri Lankans who seek help for drug related issues. Drugs that are a cause of concern in Sri Lanaka are mainly alcohol, tobacco, ganja, heroin, betel chew and non-prescriptive pharmaceutical. |
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