Psychiatric autopsy of suicide cases in Thar begins

With the technical support of the country’s top psychiatrists and Psychiatry Organizations on Thursday commenced psychiatric autopsy of suicide cases in Tharparkar. For the first time in Pakistan, a program has been launched by Sindh Mental Health Authority (SMHA) to conduct a psychiatric autopsy of suicide cases in Tharparkar reported from the year 2016 to 2020 and recommendations shall be made based on the results.

Thar Foundation is providing financial support for the program, whereas Pakistan’s renowned psychologists, Sindh government, health department, district government, universities, and hospitals provide technical support for the program. In this regard, an inauguration ceremony was held at Deputy Commissioner Office in Mithi on Thursday and attended by the Chairman of Sindh Mental Health Authority, Senator Dr Karim Khawaja, DC Tharparkar Mohammad Nawaz Sohoo, PPP Senator Engineer Gyanchand, Liaquat Medical University Vice-Chancellor Dr Bekha Ram, Dr. Prof. Syed Haider Raza Naqvi of Dow University, Karachi, Mohsin Babbar of Thar Foundation, District Public Health Officer Dr Gordhan Das and others.Addressing the meeting, Chairman SMHA, Senator Dr. Karim Khawaja said that SMHA was formed after the approval of the Sindh Cabinet. “

Sindh feels proud that for the first time a mechanism was created with 5 years of data and The Thar Foundation is providing full support for the psychological autopsy program in Tharparkar, ” he said.The results of the psychiatric autopsy would be made available in a few months, which would reveal the real reasons for suicide cases, he said, adding that no such study had been conducted in South Asia, including Pakistan, which was being conducted under Thar TeleHelp program.DC Tharparkar Mohammad Nawaz Sohoo said that there had been an increase in suicide cases in some communities of Tharparkar, while in some groups of minorities, the statistics had assured the alarming proportion alarming. Social problems, dislikes, early marriages, domestic problems were also the reasons behind the extreme steps . The district administration of Tharparkar would extend full cooperation in this regard, he added.

He said that it was the high time to fight with the menace in an effective manner to save the precious human lives of the desert region. Mr Sohoo lauded the efforts of Thar Foundation and other partners in their noble cause to put their joint efforts to find the solutions behind the extreme steps. Mohsin Babbar of Thar Foundation said, with the support of the District Health Office, they had identified 125 mental health patients under the Thar Telehealth project so far in different talukas of district Tharprakar.

“The identified patients are being treated by top psychiatrists in person and through online consultations and free medicines are also being provided,” he added. The former PPP senator Engineer Gyanchand said that social issues, suicides occurred because of social injustice and hopelessness, and we all have a responsibility to take steps to address the increasing trend and its reasons., he said. Dr Bekharam, the vice chancellor of LUMHS said that for the first time in Pakistan a psychological autopsy was being performed, which would help prevent suicides in Tharparkar. Prof.Syed Haider Raza Naqvi of Dow University said suicide cases took place where there was despair, dejection , mental disorders and sadness.

He urged upon creating awareness among the people of the desert district to curb the dangerous trend. Here it is pertinent to mention that as many as 430 Tharis, mostly women and children committed suicides in the desert district during the past five years.