Four to five young people a day at Sassoon's psychiatry wing after attempting suicide

Pune: A lack of communication, tangled relationships, the burden of rising expectations and excessive phone use are behind a rise in problems among young people ranging from depression to suicide attempts, figures from Pune's Sassoon hospital show. Four to five patients who have attempted suicide are referred to the psychiatry department from other departments every day. Most are aged 15 to 30, and the share of young women is relatively higher, said department head Dr Nishikant Thorat.

The department's outpatient wing treated about 52,000 patients last year. This year about 36,000 were registered in just six months, from April to September, with 150 to 200 patients coming in every day. Alongside illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression, doctors are seeing behavioural problems in children linked to irritability, poor concentration and heavy use of phones and social media.

Relationship stress, family problems and exam pressure are the main causes, and some cases are linked to addiction, Dr Thorat said. Ten to 12 such patients have to be admitted every month. Treatment, including medication and counselling, is decided after assessing each patient's condition and family support.

About 40 per cent of outpatients come from other districts such as Dharashiv, Beed and Ahilyanagar. The hospital has set up a 'Chhatra Manas Kaksha' for medical students, where four to five students are counselled every day. Psychiatrists stressed the need to spot behavioural problems and emotional instability in children early.

Source: Pudhari