Srinagar, Jun 30 :Two persons, including a 25-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man, allegedly committed suicide by hanging themselves during the last 24 hours in separate places in Kashmir valley.

The number of suicide incidents in Kashmir valley has witnessed manifold increase since the onset of COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, prompting authorities to launch a helping to offer guidance to persons (or their well-wishers) who are experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, panic attack, PTSD, adjustment disorder, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse, mental health emergency and pandemic induced psychological stress.

Official sources said a youth (name withheld) was found hanging inside his room on Wednesday morning in Wagoora in north Kashmir district of Baramulla. “Other family members immediately took him to a hospital, where he was declared brought dead,” they said.

They said it was not immediately clear why he took this extreme step, adding that police has registered a case and initiated investigation to ascertain the circumstances which forced him to end his life. “After completing all the legal and medical formalities, the body of the deceased was handed over to his relatives for last rites,” they added.

Panic gripped Bumthan areas in Kulgam when a woman (name withheld) was found hanging from the ceiling of her room at her residences late last evening. “The family members of the girl immediately took her to a hospital, where she was declared brought dead,” they said.

They said after completing all the legal and medical formalities, the body was handed over to her relatives for last rites. “It was not immediately clear why she took this extreme step,” they said, adding police has registered a case and initiated investigation to ascertain the circumstances which forced her to commit suicide.

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.

An official said that Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta on Tuesday inaugurated SDRF first Battalion’s 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.

The Chief Secretary, while appreciating the much needed service in present times, said that this initiative would go a long way in supporting vulnerable sections of the society.

He urged upon youth to avail helpline Sukoon’s assistance without any hesitation and live a stress free, balanced and contended life.

He expressed dismay over drug menace which is engulfing the society towards self destruction and said that it should be our prime concern to help such victims get rid of this hazard. “Establishment of such a unique helpline by the police department is really a step forward towards this direction and will immensely help in eradicating this social evil from the society,” he maintained.

The Chief Secretary laid stress on sustainability of such initiatives saying that all concerned from SDRF should take up it as a mission so that the helpline becomes a permanent facilitator for the posterity.(UNI)