The Suicide Pact
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: September 12, 2012 -

Controling mob: Cops trying to pacify angry residents of Thoubal Leishangthem :: Pix - Hueiyen Lanpao

As much as it has shocked the consciousness of the people, the incident of 'suicide pact' that led to the death of a young lover boy in a primary school at Thoubal Keibung in the wee hours of September 10 has raised some serious questions over an otherwise neglected issue concerning the state of mental health of young people in Manipuri society today.

Though some people may brush aside the incident as some minor episode of aberrations among wayward youngsters that does not deserve to be given prominent space in media, we strongly feel that it is a ticking time bomb only waiting to be exploded if the issue is not addressed properly.

Because, in most cases, suicide is not simply a selfish act brought about by a single event, but it is a result of a complex set of interactions, almost always involving the state of mental health of the people committing or attempting suicide.

In the present case, four youngsters - the young lover boy, his girlfriend and two other friends - decided to end their lives as the union between the boy and the girl is well nigh impossible on account of their religious differences.

While the boy accidentally slipped and the noose tighten around his neck to take away his life, the girl friend and the two friends cringed on seeing the horror of death from such close quarters and raised an alarm.

Now the question is how the idea of a 'suicide pact' comes into the minds of these young people? They are still teenagers studying in class VIII, and yet to see and understand the way of the world. Our society and its existing chaos, definitely, owe an answer to this.

Interestingly, the incident of 'suicide pact' among the four youngsters (although they may not be aware of it) incidentally come to light on World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10), an effort to promote worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides.

The International Association for Suicide Prevention, which is sponsoring the observance in collaboration with World Health Organisation (WHO) and other partners like World Federation for Mental Health, has been advocating prevention of suicidal behavior, provision of adequate treatment and follow up care for people who attempted suicide , as well as responsible reporting of suicide in the media.

It is said that on an average, almost 3000 people across the globe commit suicide daily and it is the most common cause of death among people between 15 to 24 years of age.

This is the 'tumultuous transitional period' with lot of pressures that could easily sway the mental growth of young people.

With the kind of wind of changes sweeping across the land and the exposure of different types the young people are left to experience with in Manipuri society today, there is an urgent need to keep in place adequate resources for coping with these changes.

After all, 'Suicide is not chosen; it happens when pain exceeds resources for coping with pain.'

Is Manipuri society ready for that? We doubt, but at least the 'suicide pact' episode should be an eye opener.