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Suicide cases on the rise: Counselling desk set up in Jaffna hospital
View(s):A 24-hour counselling desk was set up this week at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital to check the increasing number of suicides in the Jaffna district.
Launching the service named Abayam (refuge), Hospital Director S. Sathyamoorthy said the number of suicides and attempted suicides was increasing in Jaffna, particularly among the youth and the psychological counselling service was launched with the aim of addressing the issue. “Feel free to contact us on the phone and get advice, if you are sad, depressed or feeling suicidal,” he said in a message to the people.The hotline is 0710712345.
According to official statistics, 51 suicide cases were reported in 2016, 68 in 2017, 94 in 2018 and 128 in 2019.
Of the 128 victims last year, 70 committed suicide due to family disputes. Thirty two were mentally affected people, 12 were suffering from diseases, six were physically disabled, three had educational problems and two were drug addicts. The inability to pay their microfinance loans was cited as the reason in two cases while poverty was the cause in one case. Last year also saw ten attempted suicide cases.
About 199 children sought medical assistance for mental illnesses last year, according to official figures.