World Suicide Prevention Day is an awareness day observed on 10 September every year to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides. Purnima Ramakrishnan and Richa Singh spoke to The Daily Guardian about increased stress in work-from-home situations, the deteriorating mental health of employees, and the role of counselling to combat suicidal tendencies. Excerpts:
Q. How has the pandemic raised the stress levels of employees?
Purnima: According to a survey in Human Resource Executive, 69% of corporate employees say that the Covid pandemic has been the most stressful time of their entire professional life. This pandemic has been one of the most traumatic events in recent history and is continuing to cause physical, mental, emotional, and psychological harm. When employees are faced with the thought of their own ill-health, and perhaps even death, and also of their families, their attention to work would certainly be impacted. If the work demands are unrealistic or unreasonable, it is natural for them to feel stressed, and in a state of high anxiety. In addition, worries about a global slowdown, economic recession, and a possible layoff from jobs could further impact their performance at work, deliverables, and even productivity. This can be compounded by physical isolation; in case they are away from family. In case the other family members are also working from home, and are also in similar physical isolation, and if they share similar concerns and worries, that will further aggravate the situation if not remediated soon.
Richa: As per a study conducted by YourDOST on the mental health impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, over 55% of Indian corporate employees have experienced a significant rise in stress. There was also a rise in feelings of anxiety, loneliness, and frustration.
Based on the sessions taken on our platform, the top three concerns that emerged to be affecting stress levels are:
• Lack of work-life balance- A study conducted back in 2019 found that 60% of working Indians rate work-life balance from average to terrible. The 2020 pandemic and the consequent prolonged work-from-home situation have only made this worse. The contributing factor to this includes prolonged work-from-home which leaves many individuals feeling like they are in an “always-on” mode. Additionally, the lockdown led to a drastic change in most people’s lifestyles and routines. Many continue to struggle to maintain a proper routine amid these circumstances. Multiple studies have shown that poor work-life balance can directly impact people’s mental health.
• Anxiety- As per the YourDOST study, Indian working professionals including entrepreneurs experienced a net increase of up to 40% in anxiety due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Reasons varied from fear of contracting Covid-19 to fear of job loss, loss of pay, and burnout.
• Interpersonal Relationships- One of the more unforeseen consequences of prolonged work-from-home that is being observed is a rise in cases of marital discord, family tussle or roommate tiffs. This may be due to the incessant negativity of the current situation that requires us to put in a lot more effort to look for positivity. The consequent positivity deficit leads to unsavoury situations wherein things can become tense among the inhabitants of the house.
Q. How do stress levels in corporate workers lead to suicidal tendencies?
Purnima: Clinical symptoms of anxiety lead to loneliness which in turn gives rise to depressive tendencies and eventually to morbid thoughts. CDC reports suggest that 40% of adults struggled with mental health challenges and indulged in substance abuse during this pandemic. This situation is just not restricted to the corporate working population but also to unpaid caregivers at home like a mother or a stay-at-home spouse or domestic partner. When these people feel stressed, this topples the whole support system for a corporate worker, who has to sometimes punch in more than the regular 7 to 9 working hours a day. Increased anxiety levels lead to substance abuse, alcohol addiction, and invariably this is a downward spiral to suicidal tendencies.
Richa: Several risk factors contribute to suicidal tendencies. Studies show that job strain, longer working hours, and interpersonal issues in the workplace contribute to occupational risk factors for suicidal thoughts. Many have pre-existing mental health issues that may probably not have been addressed. During the pandemic, there were layoffs, issues with job security, pay cuts, not getting promoted, which may all trigger pre-existing mental health conditions, leading to impulsive suicidal tendencies.
Q. What should a person do if family/friends/colleagues have developed suicidal thoughts?
Purnima: The first step is to become aware of these tendencies that crop up when one is on a downward spiral. Take all signs of depression and suicide seriously. It is always better to be safe than sorry. Give this person a great deal of attention and love. Help your friend relax, do your best to reduce their anxiety levels, and divert their attention towards the present moment or share a happy memory to make them comfortable. To help them relax, you can administer the techniques of heartfulness relaxation and left nostril breathing that is available on the Heartfulness website and App.
A counselor or professional help should always be sought for your friend. Nothing can substitute medical or professional attention but until that kind of help is available, we should not give up and continue to support them through love, attention, relaxation technique, and breathing techniques. If the person is too anxious to try this, engage them in a conversation and try to soothe them with pleasant thoughts and ideas.
Richa: They can take the following steps to help their closed ones deal with suicidal thoughts:
• Ask and listen to them attentively- Take them to a private and comfortable space. Ask them if they’re feeling suicidal. Do not panic when they say yes and it is important you sound non-judgemental. Pay full attention and make them feel they are being taken seriously. Acknowledge the tough situation they are in and assure them that it is okay to feel what they are feeling.
• Motivate them to seek professional help- Make them understand that you respect their privacy and convince them to get professional assistance and speak with someone who can analyse their problem honestly and without bias or prejudice. Arrange for them to see a therapist and offer to accompany them to their first appointment
Q. How effective are counseling sessions for people who have suicidal thoughts?
Purnima: For our friends who have suicidal thoughts and to make them come out of it—it is vital to give them hope, acceptance, and encouragement to build inner strength. We need to reignite and nurture their will to see through this challenging phase. With time, thorough professional help, and dedicated follow-through, there is a good chance of recovery, fresh start, and open outlook to life. Heartfulness Institute in association with the Ripples of Change Foundation runs an initiative “Voice that Cares”—a free-of-charge psychosocial first aid public helpline—with guidance from NDMA, NIMHANS (Centre for Psychosocial Support in Disaster Management) and supported by other organisations in India. Preventive action is the most important one in such a scenario. This initiative, run on the helpline number 8448844845, is open from 9 am to 9 pm.
Richa: Counseling is significantly effective for people with suicidal thoughts as it provides them a safe space with no judgement to express their feelings. A therapist will support and give them a reason to live. It is not just helpful in the short run but in the long run a psychologist will help them identify the root cause that led to the suicidal thought. Research says that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) based interventions demonstrated effectiveness in reducing suicidal behavior. Also, through therapy, we can identify if there is an underlying mental health issue including depression and bipolar disorder oleading to these suicidal thoughts.