New Delhi. Suicide remains a serious social and mental health problem worldwide. Recently, Dr. Matthew Nock, a famous psychologist and professor at Harvard University, has shared shocking facts on this subject. Dr. Nock, who is also the director of Clinical and Developmental Research Laboratory at Harvard University, said that there are some professions in which the risk of suicide among working people is many times more than the rest of the society. According to him, about 15 percent of people in the US think of suicide. One-third of these people sometimes attempt suicide. The sad thing is that one of the five people who once attempts suicide and survives attempts suicide again. However, he also stated that most people who survive immediately regret it.
The most danger of suicide
Dr. Nock clarified that the threat of suicide is not the same in every profession. This crisis dominates those who work in certain professions, especially where people reach the reach of fatal means easily. According to him, the following are the highest risk profession:
Police officers
First Responders – Like Fire Fighters and Medical Emergency Employees
Doctors (Physicians)
Soldiers
Service members
Why does the danger of suicide increase?
Dr. Nock gave three major reasons behind this:
1. Easy access to fatal means: In the professions like police, army and doctors, people are in contact with such means that make it easier to commit suicide. For example – Police and soldiers have weapons, while doctors have powerful medicines.
2. Stressful and shocking work circumstances: Police officers and soldiers face daily dangerous circumstances, crime, violence and stressful incidents. Similarly, doctors and nurses constantly live among serious diseases and patients suffering from death. This atmosphere has a profound effect on mental health.
3. Demographic Factors: Dr. Knock said that the threat of suicide on women police officers is even more. This danger remains beyond their age, caste or race.
Understand the seriousness of the problem with data
Dr. Nock said that the graph of suicide among the New York City police officers had suddenly gone up a lot.
This danger in women is even higher because they face both mental stress and social pressure.
The percentage of suicide in doctors and healthcare workers has been recorded much higher than ordinary people.
Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Dr. Nock also talked about new techniques, especially Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the discussion. They believe that it may be possible to understand the pattern of suicide and forecast risk through machine learning and AI. But he also warned on this –
“AI is not a human being. It makes a large number of mistakes. In such a situation, if AI is only trusted on sensitive issues like mental health, then the situation can be dangerous.”
That is, AI can be used as a helping tool, but the role of human experts is extremely important.
Need policy and institutional steps
Dr. Nock’s suggestions are clear that governments and institutions have to take two big steps:
Reducing the access to deadly means: In the professions where people have easy access to weapons or deadly medicines, strict control over it is necessary.
Carefully adopting AI based tools: The use of machine learning and AI can help prevent suicidal cases, but strict testing and human monitoring will be necessary before implementing it.
Lesson for society
This research of Dr. Nock is a warning for not only America but also for every country in the world. In countries like India, there are frequent reports of suicide in policemen, doctors and soldiers. There is still a lack of seriousness about mental health. Experts believe that –
Counseling and mental health support have to be made mandatory.
Work-life balance and comfort will have to be given priority.
The silence and stigma spread in the society will have to be broken due to suicide.
Harvard’s psychologist Dr. Matthew Knock’s warning clarifies that the threat of suicide exists more deeply in some special professions. Police, doctors, soldiers and other first responders face daily situations that affect their mental health badly. Now the time has come to take concrete steps together. Prevention of suicide is not only the responsibility of the individual but the responsibility of the whole society. This crisis can be reduced only through technology, correct policies and human sensitivity.
