Srinagar: A 24-year-old youth on Sunday committed suicide by jumping into a waterfall in south Kashmir district of Kulgam.
Official sources said that panic gripped Aharbal when a youth (name withheld) jumped into the waterfall in Kulgam on Sunday. “A search and rescue operation was immediately launched, but the youth could not be saved,” they said.
They said after strenuous efforts, the body of the youth was fished out at Manzgam. “It was not immediately clear why he took this extreme step,” they said, adding police has registered a case and initiated investigation to ascertain the circumstance which forced him to commit suicide.
They said after completing all the legal and medical formalities, the body of the deceased was handed over to his relatives for last rites.
The number of suicides in Kashmir valley since the outbreak of second way of COVID-19 pandemic has witnessed a significant increase.
Experts claim that the jump in the number of suicides is related to deterioration of mental health of people due to COVID-19 pandemic. “There are various factors that affect the mental health of a person. During the current pandemic, people are stressed and have anxieties due to job loss, limited income, COVID related deaths and other factors. On top of this, due to restrictions, people were confined to their homes due to COVID curfew… all this has taken a heavy toll on the mental health of people,” they said.
In view of significant increase in the mental health issues, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) last month launched a 24×7 mental health helpline ‘SUKOON’ at its headquarters. “This initiative will guide the caller to avail services of clinical psycholgists, therapists, counsellors and psychiatrists and provide round the clock one to one support, free and confidential services to those experiencing mental health issues,” an official said. (UNI)
