Watch out for signs of despair

Dubai: Even as suicides go, this one was a complete shocker.

When friends and family found Indian resident Rijesh hanging from the ceiling fan in the hall of his one-bedroom flat in Dubai's Bur Dubai last Saturday, they could not believe it. Why would someone so fun-loving want to kill himself? Why would his wife Sreesha cut her wrists? And why would they snuff the life out of their daughter Avantika — just six?

Answers still elude — investigations are under way and Sreesha is being treated in Rashid Hospital's psychiatric ward. But in an effort to prevent more such incidents in future, the Indian Consulate has urged the community to stay alert, pick up signals of "excessive pessimistic behaviour" among friends and bring it to the notice of the missions or other community organisations.

"The Consulate, from time to time, has stressed that in today's world, personal, financial and interpersonal issues are not uncommon. We need to stay alert to any signs of depression, low esteem, excessive pessimistic behaviour in friends and acquaintances and consider these as a message seeking support and assurances," a Consulate spokesperson told XPRESS.

"Indian community organisations, employees, peer groups and neighbours need to pick up these signals and draw the attention of the consulate or community organisations to these problems," he said, adding words of support, understanding and encouragement help people tide over the "overwhelming despair of the moment".

Although suicide figures for the Indian expat community have fallen from 113 in 2009 and 110 in 2010 to 73 in 2011, every fresh case is a cause for concern. "The reasons for suicides differ from case to case, ranging from interpersonal and family disputes to professional and financial reasons," the spokesperson said.

In Rijesh's case, family members and friends said he led a normal life and had a pleasant disposition. "I've known him for five years. He used to buy stuff from my shop and kept a monthly account, which he would clear by the fifth of every month," said the owner of a grocery in the same lane as Building 44 where Rijesh lived.

The grocer said the last time he saw Rijesh was around 12 the previous night when he bought a loaf of bread and milk. "I believe the family had been out to see the fireworks." A still stunned Ribesh, Rijesh's brother, said, "I don't know what could have happened. Just the previous day, they had spoken to me."

Meanwhile, K. Kumar, Convenor of the Indian Community Welfare Organisation, said the Indian Community Welfare Committee will provide assistance to the family for repatriation of the bodies, once investigations and formalities are completed. The consulate spokesperson said Indians can call the Indian Workers Resource Centre (IWRC) at 800 46342, 050-943 3111 or 800 INDIA for help to sort out problems. The helpline provides financial, legal and psychological counselling to Indians in the UAE. There is a provision for one-on-one meetings with the counsellors. Some cases are escalated to the level of the consulate.

What to Look For

Most people who kill themselves have diagnosable and treatable psychiatric illnesses such as depression, border personality disorder or schizophrenia.

Even otherwise, there are many warning signs that family and friends can pick up from those who may have suicidal tendencies.

Dr Roghy McCarthy, Clinical Psychologist at the Counselling and Development Clinic in Dubai, identifies the following: