SUICIDE IN ADOLESCENTS: UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM AND FINDING A SOLUTION

Title: SUICIDE IN ADOLESCENTS: UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM AND FINDING A SOLUTION
Chairpersons: Indira Sharma, Rakesh Chadda
Indira Sharma,
Professor Emeritus, Psychiatry, National Academy of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, Delhi, India
Email-indira_06@rediffmail.com
Mobile-00-91-9336912685
Rakesh Chadda,
Professor and Head, Department of Psychiatry, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Faridabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Email-drrakeshchadda@gmail.com
Presenters: Indira Sharma, Rakesh Chadda, G Gopalkrishnan, and Mamta Sood,
G Gopalkrishnan,
Professor Emeritus, MVJ Medical College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Email-Sowanasaya@gmail.com
Mamta Sood,
Professor of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, Delhi, India
Email-“Mamta Sood” soodmamta@gmail.com
Background:
Recent data Southeast Asia has the highest suicide rate among the six WHO regions.
Aim: 1) To re-examine suicide in adolescents with respect to various determinants
2) To draw out a line of action.
Abstract
Background: Recent data Southeast Asia has the highest suicide rate among the six WHO regions.
Aim: 1) To re-examine suicide in adolescents with respect to various determinants
2) To draw out a line of action.
Suicide in Adolescents: Determinants: Indira Sharma
Mental illness is the primary cause of suicide. Often the illness is not recognized by the family, especially when mental illness is triggered by a stressful life event, no not treated
Suicide in Adolescents: Contributory stress to suicide: Rakesh Chadda
High aspirations with desire to succeed in competitive examinations, sometimes even when weak in science subjects; long hours of study / coaching, lack of exercise / recreation, pressure from parents to succeed at all cost because they have invested a lot of money, staying in hostel/ rented room; and stress related to love, sex and marriage, may trigger mental illness in those predisposed to it.
Suicide in Adolescents: Roles of alcohol: G Gopalkrishnan
• Often adolescents take alcohol with friends to allay their anxiety/depression, but drinking alcohol can contribute to symptoms of depression. Alcohol use can also affect how antidepressants work, which becomes significant when the adolescent is receiving antidepressant treatment. Most important is that alcohol has been associated with a 94% increase in the risk of death by suicide.
Suicide in Adolescents: What can be done?: Mamta Sood
Healthy lifestyle, which includes teetotalism, and maintaining optimal level of stress, Is recommended. Those on treatment must ensure the same as per advise from the psychiatrist. Early recognition of mental illness/ suicidal tendency by family, friend/ room-mate/ teacher/ warden/ other person, and psychiatric consultation is needed. While a few cases may be treated on out-door basis, most would require in-patient treatment in a psychiatric hospital. The backbone of treatment is suicidal caution, medication, and sometimes electroconvulsive therapy.

Indira Sharma