Representative Image
MUMBAI: Over 70,000 people across India dialled a mental health helpline in the last financial year, indicating the profound impact that the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown has had on people s psychological state.
The Mpower helpline, which has an ongoing tie-up with the Government of Maharashtra and the BMC, received maximum calls from people between 26 to 40 years of age. Besides employees of corporate groups, teachers and farmers also sought help for mental health issues.
Psychiatrists recounted a case where a man in his mid-twenties reached out to the helpline with increasing depressive thoughts. He was finding it difficult to overcome a heartbreak. Trapped at home during lockdown and conflict with family made him feel suicidal. He was advised medication and psychotherapy.
Mental health helpline rings off the hook with 70k calls in Covid times
ByNitasha NatuNitasha Natu / Updated: Apr 29, 2021, 16:08 IST
(This story was first published in TOI on April 29, 2021)
Mumbai: Over 70,000 people across India dialled a mental health helpline in the last financial year, indicating the profound impact that the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown has had on people s psychological state.
The Mpower helpline, which has an ongoing tie-up with the
Government of Maharashtra and the
BMC, received maximum calls from people between 26 to 40 years of age. Besides employees of corporate groups, teachers and farmers also sought help for mental health issues.
Representative image
MUMBAI: More than 900 men and women died by suicide in Mumbai between January and November this year, data with the Mumbai police has shown. Young adults in the 19-30 years age-group comprised a majority (36%) of the victims, while 10% were senior citizens. The data also shows 371 of the total 928 deaths by suicide occurred during the complete lockdown between March and July. However, despite the lockdown, the 928 deaths were 14% fewer than the 1,075 deaths by suicide reported between January and November 2019.
“Young adults in the 19-30 years age-group could have been impacted the most as many of them were stranded in different cities, away from families, in the lockdown either for education or work. Some suffered in their careers as companies weren’t hiring due to economic losses and many were terminating new recruits. Lack of social support, loneliness and financial issues made young adults more vulnerable,” said Dr Avinash De Sousa, consultant psychi
Mumbai between January and November this year, data with the
Mumbai police has shown.
Young
adults in the 19-30 years age-group comprised a majority (36%) of the victims, while 10% were senior citizens. The data also shows 371 of the total 928 deaths by suicide occurred during the complete
lockdown between March and July.
However, despite the lockdown, the 928 deaths were 14% fewer than the 1,075 deaths by suicide reported between January and November 2019.
Rawale had represented the Mumbai South-Central constituency for five consecutive terms.
“Young adults in the 19-30 years age-group could have been impacted the most as many of them were stranded in different cities, away from families, in the lockdown either for education or work. Some suffered in their careers as companies weren’t hiring due to economic losses and many were terminating new recruits. Lack of social support, loneliness and financial issues made young adults more vulnerable,” said Dr Avinash De So