Spike in suicide deaths in India due to use of social media: Senior Civil Judge Renuka D Raikar

Karwar : (By : Suraj Kroomkar) : Senior Civil Judge and Member Secretary of District Legal Services Authority Renuka D Raikar said that due to youths using social media, suicide rate among youths has increased. Social media use by minors and youths has significantly increased and has been linked to depression and suicidality, she added.
She was speaking after inaugurating ‘World Suicide Prevention Day’ program held at the Karwar Institute of Medical Sciences (KRIMS) here on Tuesday.
The programme was organised under the joint auspices of District Administration, Zilla Panchayat, District Health and Family Welfare Department, District Legal Services Authority, Institute of Medical Sciences Karwar, District and Sub-Jails, Education Department, Social Welfare Dept., Excise Dept., Women and Child Welfare Department, District Mental Health Department.
She further said that youths make friendship with strangers on social media, share personal information on social media and later land into problems by meeting them. There are increasing cases of frauds and cyber crimes also. Students by over usage of Social Media develop teen anxiety and depression and due to which they commit suicide. Therefore, they should be careful while making new friends online, she added.
“Do not perform any task in daily life with stress, always try to enjoy your life. Don’t have too much expectations about your future, when too much expectations fail, you will be disappointed and suicidal thoughts come in your mind. Love your solitude, be introspective. Make use of your beautiful human birth for good purposes and serving the society”, she said.
District Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr. Neeraj said that by engaging in good hobbies and healthy activities, thoughts of suicide cannot arise.
While delivering introductory speech, Dr. Vijayaraj, Department Head of Mental Health Department of KRIMS, said that suicides are happening every 40 seconds in the world, and one person attempts suicide every 3 seconds. 7-8 lakh people die by suicide every year in the world and 1.30 lakh people die in India.
On that occasion, the poster of Tele MANAS, a comprehensive mental health care service was released.
Director of KRIMS Dr. Gajanan Nayak, Medical Superintendent of KRIMS Dr. Shivanand Kudtarkar, District Mental Health Program Officer Dr. Shankar Rao, Dr. Manjunath Bhat, Taluk Health Officer Dr. Suraj Nayak, Superintendent of Prisons Eranna B Rangapur, Circle Inspector of Police Kokila were present. Dr. Akshaya Pathak, welcomed and a student Tanuja Hiremath compered the programme.