JAIPUR: Police investigations into recent cases of suicides by city students have revealed that in most cases early symptoms of depression are overlooked by family members. Psychiatrists claim that though suicide might be a decision taken in a haste, the tendency to commit suicide develops over time. Jalupura police say that 18-year-old Archana Rathore who was pursuing an airhostess course and committed suicide by hanging herself from the ceiling of her room in New Colony on Saturday night had been showing signs of depression for a long time.
“We are not sure what forced Arachana to commit suicide --- it could be an affair as prima-facie we have come to know, but she had surely been very depressed recently. She had stopped attending classes and had moved out of the place where she lived as a paying guest,” said Syam Sundar, investigating officer.
She moved out claiming that she did not like the restrictions imposed on her by the hostel. “She had to return before 7 pm and was allowed to go out only in emergencies. She moved out after living there for five months. But a month later, Archana’s mother brought her to the same house,” said Syam Sundar. The other girls who were paying guests told the police that Archana had isolated herself and was not talking much.
In the case of 16-year- old Smita Singh, who hanged herself from the ceiling of her room in Sodala on January 10, the police said statements of family members reveal the girl was completely stressed due to exams. “She had told her family many times that her preparations for CBSE’s pre-board examinations were not up to the mark,” said Natthu Ram, investigation officer. She was an average student and told her family she would try her best to fulfil their expectations.
Preeti Das, 19, who killed herself by jumping in front of a moving train on Sunday evening when she flunked n CA-CPT exams, had been under tremendous family pressure to clear the exams, claimed police.
Dr Sudhir K Khandelwal, professor, department of psychiatry in All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi told TOI that it is very important for parents to keep watch on the mental pressure of the young. “Whenever they see changes in the daily routine of their children and children behave abnormally like keeping themselves isolated from society, the parents should immediately seek psychiatric help,” said Dr Khandelwal.