Price hike, wars, lawlessness result in 20 percent hike in suicide ratio: Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui
KARACHI, Oct 10 (SABAH): Noted neurophysician of the country and Epilepsy Foundation Pakistan President Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui has said that during past 10 years the ratio of suicides has increased by 20 percent mainly due to changing sociopolitical conditions, wars, poverty, inflation, price hike and lawlessness, besides rising mental diseases.
In a statement on the occasion of World Mental Health Day, Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui said the murder of merit, lack of trust of citizens on government law enforcement agencies, misuse of social media, weakness in family and social systems are the reasons behind the rising mental illnesses in society. He said affected people adopt loneliness and stop sharing their feelings with other people and this leads to their losing hope in life.
She said an example of government’s apathy towards its citizens is the case of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. Despite her innocence the government and state institutions of Pakistan has failed to give her protection. She said when the government institutions fail to secure the daughters of nation people would certainly lose trusting them.
Dr. Fowzia Siddiqui said mental illnesses in children are also rising which is worrisome. She said allowing young children to see too much cartoons on TV and mobile phone push them to social isolation which is called virtual autism.
She said when a person loses interest in work, become sad and depressed, show anger his or her family should immediately consult a medical professional, as this person could be inclined to suicide.
She said the people who want to go to the USA should know that in the US one suicide case is reported after every 10 minutes.
She said a healthy mind innecessary for a healthy society, adding we must build a healthy society by taking individual and collective efforts for the sake of our coming generations. She appealed to the government of Pakistan to take steps for checking suicidal tendency in society and build trust of citizens on the government and state institutions.