The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Suicide not the solution

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 31, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Suicide not the solution

K.T. Sangameswaran

CONVEYING A CLEAR MESSAGE: (From left) Balaselvi, Gomathi and Lakshmi, who survived after consuming acid, narrating their tale in Chennai on Tuesday. — Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

CHENNAI: Three women who attempted suicide and recovered after surgery will take part in a programme here on September 1 to create awareness about suicide prevention. The Health Department and Government Royapettah Hospital (GRH) are organising the programme to convey the message that suicide is not the solution to problems.

Lakshmi (21) of Madurai, Gomathi (27) of Thanjavur and Balaselvi (23) of Chennai consumed acid to end their lives. "I attempted suicide on the spur of the moment after my father beat me on the road," says Lakshmi.

"Overcome by emotion after a minor quarrel with my in-laws, I attempted suicide. Nobody should succumb to emotions and attempt suicide. Besides their physical sufferings, they make others in the family suffer too," says Balaselvi.

"Our aim was to enable the three to be able to eat and speak. We have succeeded in our efforts," says S.M. Chandramohan, Head of the Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, GRH.

Between July last and June this year, GRH treated 160 persons who consumed acid, of which seven died, says R. Thirunarayanan, hospital superintendent. Most were aged between 15 and 25. Two-thirds were girls. Emotional reasons provoked them to attempt suicide, he explains.

Dr. Chandramohan says most of those who consume acid to commit suicide survive, but lead a miserable life as they are unable to eat or drink. At times, they lose their speech. The severity of the damage depends on the amount of acid consumed, its concentration, whether it is taken on empty or full stomach and whether the acid is solid or liquid, he says.

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Tamil Nadu