Wednesday, March 01, 2006

Depression can kill, literally

Tum itanaa jo muskuraa rahe ho
Kyaa gam hai jis ko chhupaa rahe ho

Ban jaayenge jahar peete peete
Ye ashk jo peete jaa rahe ho


The recent suicide of model-actress Kuljeet Randhawa shocked many. To most, it brought back memories of Nafisa Joseph, another model-actress who, too had ended her young life in a similar tragic manner an year back. One could speculate endlessly as to what possibly could lead young, successful and the have-it-all-in-life (at least as it may seem) people to be driven to the edge of life. To the outward world, they projected a picture of happiness and confidence. Even people close to them who might have been privy to a more true picture, failed to sense the darkness that the person was being pulled into from within.

But the possible explanation, beyond the sensationalism of media headlines screaming about failed love affairs and other juicy angles, is perhaps a medical one – suicide is considered a mental health issue by medicine. A very common cause of suicide is known to be depression. As a matter of fact, according to the World Health organization it is feared to be the second largest cause of disability, after heart diseases, in the world.

Sadly enough, the nature and significance of depression as a medical problem is not known, or if known, mostly ignored, especially in our country. Depression is seen merely as a ‘state of mind’ and something which the person can overcome through will power – implying that someone who doesn’t ‘snap out of it’ is ‘weak’ and has ‘no will power’ – a belief which in fact, further pushes the person into the lonely, cocooned and confusing world of depression.

And though depression is something we have largely associated with images of spurned lovers, bereavement and/or loneliness – these circumstances may initiate or aggravate a depression, but rarely culminate into a state of despair eventually leading to suicide or even lead to a persistent state of sadness which makes normal life disruptive. For people who have not experienced or not been close to someone who has experienced the overwhelming nature of this mental state, it is rather difficult to understand the impact of this disorder - it takes away from the person any reason to hope and look forward to a possible reality other than the hopelessness looming around at that point in time.

The following lines from a poem by someone called S.N. that I stumbled across on the web bring out the silent cry of help of a depressed individual:

Depression overwhelms my soul
Deep darkness, a big, black hole
Sadness eats it way through my heart
Where does it end, where did it start?

Why does it have to be me?
If only the future I could see
Afraid of shadows In the dark
Will I ever make my mark?

So much to be thankful for
How can I ask for any more?
I just wish this could go away
For me to have a natural day

Suffice to say, if you notice any of the symptoms of depression in anyone close to you, friend or family, please help them. Listen to them. Don't advice or patronise. Don't try 'talking sense’, seek professional help if required. Schools and colleges, especially would have a counsellor to assist in a time like this. In the event that you find yourself slipping into this unconquerable abyss of sadness, please seek help. Talk about it. To a friend, family, doctor, counselor. Just remember, you are not alone.

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home