A silent epidemic

While Fairuz’s story is absolutely one of injustice, it also testifies to deaths by suicide being something of a silent epidemic in our country especially among students. A report prepared by non-governmental organization Aachol Foundation this past January said that at least 513 students had committed suicide across Bangladesh last year, with 227 being school students, 140 college students, 98 university students, and 48 madrasa students.
According to a recent Dhaka Tribune report, experts emphasize the need for mass awareness of mental diseases such as depression, while also advocating for examining mental health crises through the lens of social instability.
The fact that death by suicide is so inordinately high among our students is deeply concerning. Given that self-termination has a direct correlation to mental disease, it is now clear as day that we need to start having a national conversation on the importance of taking care of our mental health alongside our physical health.
Unfortunately, mental health services are incredibly rare even in the most metropolitan areas of Bangladesh and the fact that a deep stigma runs throughout the entire notion of seeking mental health counselling further exacerbates the matters. This has directly led to Bangladesh being on the verge of a mental health crisis.
There are few notions more tragic than having our children, our future leaders and thinkers, choosing to end their own lives due to the collective failure of an entire society in understanding what troubles them.
If anyone you know is showing signs of depression or suicidal tendencies, please listen to them.