Why the extreme step?

There are close to two dozen counselling centres in the city and most of them get at least two calls per day. A great number of people wishing to commit suicide opt for Tank Bund. On an average, Roshni, a voluntary organisation that helps people with suicidal tendencies, gets 3-4 cases each month when people would have tried to jump in the lake and are rescued by the Hussain Sagar Lake Police.

Ananda Divakar, a volunteer at Roshni, says, "On an average, we get 25 calls every day and we noticed quite a few would have gone to Tank Bund to survey the place a number of times."

The major causes for depression are academic pressure, failure in love, sexual harassment, physical abuse, loneliness, mental illness and grief after losing loved ones.

"Suicide is not a wish to die, it's a cry for help," says Shanti, a senior volunteer who is with Roshni. Shanti who has been with Roshni for the last 22 years says, "If a person is supported for 36 to 48 hours, the feelings will pass. It is a crucial time and many would not commit suicide if they have someone who could listen to them."

According to WHO, India has the highest suicide rate worldwide. According to estimates, 1.2 lakh commit suicide every year, 4 lakh attempt committing suicide and 40% of these are below the age of 30. In the last 45 years, suicide rate has increased by 60% worldwide. Suicide is among the three leading causes of death among those aged 15-44 years.

Over 1,20,000 people kill themselves in India every year. However, the realistic estimate could be 5-6 times that number. It means that one person every five minutes feels so trapped and lonely, angry and unimportant that to end the pain, he feels suicide is the only way.

Suicidal tendencies after divorce

Senior volunteers say, in the last 10 years, many persons after divorce get depressed and show suicidal ideation. Failure in love and extra-marital relations too trigger suicidal tendencies. Meghna Rao, a psychiatrist says, "People seek a permanent solution to a temporary problem. If they are counseled at the right time, many a life can be saved."

The symptoms that one should look out for people in depression include tiredness, hopelessness, irritation, loneliness, isolation, giving away belongings, depressive notes and writing a will. According to data, in the last 45 years suicide rates have increased by 60% worldwide and are the leading cause of death in 10-24 years age group. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2015 data, every hour one student commits suicide in India.

On an average, about 3,000 people commit suicide daily worldwide. For every person who commits a suicide, 20 or more may attempt to end their lives. Mental disorders (particularly depression and alcohol use disorders) are a major risk factor for suicide.

Job stress also a killer

Traditionally, people would work from 9-5. Today, one gets back home only after 8 p.m. "Thanks to stress levels, job insecurity, advent of IT/ITeS sector which calls for high pressure work, the younger lot are succumbing to pressure, says Madan a counselor."