ACTIONISTS' webinar on suicide prevention

On Friday, September 17, 2021, in conjunction with the Monodhoani Project for Awareness on Suicide Prevention - 'Bangladeshi People Suicidal tendencies and suicidal behavior', ACTIONISTS hosted the webinar on suicide-prevention and awareness. The webinar was broadcast live from ACTIONISTS's Facebook page.

A recent study found that in the year 2020-21 there were 6,000 deaths in the country but more than 14,000 people lost their lives in suicide. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, in the last one year, i.e. during the pandemic, the number of suicides in the country has increased by 16% and according to private estimates, it is more than 44%. And the suicide rate in Bangladesh is almost the same as in developed countries.

Researchers have talked to some people who have survived suicide and tried to find out some of the reasons and found that the main reasons for suicide are family complications, deterioration of relationships,  frustration with studies, financial crises, depression etc. In addition to these reasons, unemployment, unfulfilled ambitions are also some of the reasons.

World Suicide Prevention Awareness Month is celebrated in September every year. The theme of this year's Suicide Prevention Day is 'Creating Hope Through Action'.

Kamal Chowdhury, Professor and Psychologist, Department of Clinical Psychology, Dhaka University, ASM Amanullah, Professor, Department of Sociology, Dhaka University and Sharin Shahjahan Naomi, Assistant Professor, Asian University for Women were present on the occasion. The program was conducted by Dr. Fatima Zohra, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, BSMMU. The event was coordinated by A.N.M Fakhrul Amin Forhad, founder of ACTIONISTS.

Professor Kamal Chowdhury said, :Suicide is a symptom of depression, not a disorder. Hopelessness is a major cause of suicide. This hopelessness, which leads to suicide, is the beginning of depression. Therefore, professional counselling is necessary to overcome depression.' According to the statement of Professor ASM Amanullah, During the COVID-19 outbreak many students have dropped out and there is a strong possibility that they may never return to educational institutions. Alternative livelihoods" must be arranged in order to bring them back. According to Sharin Shahjahan Naomi, people's direct contact with others has decreased, which has a significant impact on their mental health. People may commit suicide as a result of these factors.

ACTIONISTS is a youth-based organisation that has long been involved in raising awareness through social media through the Action for Dialogue series.

Event report by Purbasha Prithvi, Rsearch & Development Executive, ACTIONISTS.