Seek help when depressed, psychiatrists say

Dubai: Expatriates have no social support mechanism and many do not seek treatment in time for illnesses such as depression which is treatable, a psychiatrist said. He was commenting on the case of collective suicide in Al Karama.

Dr Balan Vijaykumar said it is difficult to say what exactly happened and there could have been other issues as a severe illness in the family. "It's anybody's guess," he said.

The doctor who is with the Lulu Medical Centre in Sharjah, said very little research has been done on suicide pacts, such as this case.

Another psychiatrist believes that a dominant member of the family could easily make others kill themselves. Dr N.K. Dhar said the wife could have been gullible and very open to suggestions. But he could not understand other family members in their 20s killing themselves over money problems, as the police report suggests.

This does not seem to be a case where the parents do not take others into their confidence. Such parents usually poison their young ones first and then kill themselves, said the doctor with the Jumeirah Prime Medical Centre.