Last year, 532 young people took their lives, compared to 101 in 2021 and 42 in 2020. Among the causes are unfulfilled family expectations, mental or economic problems, conflicts and depression, but there is no shortage of teacher abuse and sexual violence. . April is the month that registered the peak, according to data from the Anchal Foundation.
Dhaka () – In Bangladesh there is alarm at the growing number of suicides among the young (and very young), which are also confirmed by the figures: last year 532 young people – including those from secondary schools and universities – took their own lives throughout the country, with an average of 44 cases per month. According to figures provided by activists from the NGO Anchal Foundation, 446 attended secondary and high school institutes, while the remaining 86 were enrolled in university. Among the causes of suicides are unsatisfied family expectations, internal conflicts, depression, mental or economic problems, sexual abuse, harassment and rape. To these are added the cases related to offensive material published on social networks, insults by teachers, failed exams or the impossibility of buying smartphones or mopeds.
In an interview with , Matiur Rahman, researcher and expert on social issues, stresses the importance of teaching boys and girls to accept failure or success as part of life, without losing confidence in case of failure. “In this way,” he warns, “they will be able to overcome adversity” and deal with problems related to education and growth. “In many cases, suicides are preventable,” he continues, “and we can all contribute our help, as members of society, parents, friends, colleagues and neighbors.” And he concludes: “We can all play a role in helping those who are in crisis that may lead to suicide or are grieving someone’s suicide. We can be there for them.”
The phenomenon of school-age youth taking their own lives skyrocketed last year, from 42 cases in 2020 to 101 in 2021, out of a total student population of 27 million (out of 168 million total population in Bangladesh). Dhaka district records the largest number of high school and college students, while 54 madrasas (Koranic schools) students took their own lives. Women represent 63.9% of suicides and men 36.1%.
By months, the count indicates: 34 deaths in January, 39 in February, 41 in March, 50 in April (when the peak is recorded), 45 in May, 31 in June, 40 in July, 21 in August; 32 in September, 30 in October, 49 in November and 34 in December, in the last month of the year. By districts, Dhaka tops this unenviable ranking with 23.7% of suicides, followed by Chittagong with 17.2% and Rajshahi division with 16.8%.
