SUICIDE AND RESPONSIBLE MEDIA REPORTING: WHAT IS WRONG IN KASHMIR?

Suicide is not new to any society including Kashmir Valley. However, in recent months there has been an escalation both in the number of suicides and its reporting in media may it be print, radio, television, and social media. Every other person, probably in good faith, is telling people not to end their lives using various strategies from religious to social, mostly based on ill-founded ideas. Many people are asking why the suicide rates are going suddenly high and what has changed now that so many people mostly young are trying to end their lives. 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) classifies irresponsible media reporting as one of the major causes of the sudden increase in the number of suicides. This is due to the ‘imitative behaviour’ of vulnerable people who may be thinking of ending their life. This usually affects young people and those with underlying mental health issues. There is lots of research on ‘suicide contagion’ wherein the rates of suicide increase mainly due to irresponsible and sensational media reporting. This occurs when a suicide or attempted suicide serves as a ‘model’ or example for subsequent suicidal behaviour. The ‘model’ could be a famous person or celebrity, but could also be a relative, neighbour or friend living in the local community. The contagious effect may be precipitated by pervasive grief or over-identification with the person who has died or the circumstances in which they took their own life. One can easily understand how it works in the context of Kashmir. 

Sadly, looking at the recent coverage of some of the tragic incidents in Kashmir over the last few months indicate how insensitive, sensational, headline-grabbing and harmful reporting is going on. This is being done by individuals to major news outlets with wide circulation, the radio stations and the news coming out of the local television studios. Social media is equally buzzing with ill-formed advice and the circulation of harmful news and videos. Kashmir has been in a state of trauma for a long time now.

However, nothing else seems to have changed in Kashmir in the last few months apart from the sensational and headline-grabbing reporting of suicides. This started with a tragic death of a young man in early 2021 which was brutally sensationalised. This followed with few more deaths by suicide and the vicious cycle of irresponsible reporting and further deaths. In June 2021 there were approximately five times more suicide attempts than in January 2021.  

There is total disregard of any media ethics and guidelines when it comes to reporting suicide. Deaths by suicide remain a major public health concern around the world and sensitive reporting is needed to create awareness and demand for proper services. However, dramatic headlines regarding the methods of suicide, locations, names, and personal stories make a harmful impact and is well evidenced in scientific literature. If you look at any news article from Kashmir, you will see all or some of these things mentioned in every report. There is a complete disregard for the families of victims. Some have even published articles denigrating the deceased using religion, sermonising, cursing, blaming parents and whatnot. One wonders if there are editors who see this material, or it simply goes to print without any oversight.  There is a lack of guidance from the administration on this subject and nobody seems to know how and what to do. 

Many people including professionals like psychologists, social workers, engineers, and even doctors are taking to social media trying to help. I am sure this is all done with good intentions, however, it is doing real harm and having the opposite reaction. Apart from emotive speeches, there is a problematic use of language like ‘committing suicide, blaming people for being weak, sinners, and the list goes on. We must not forget that anyone who is thinking of ending their life is not doing it for fun and most people have underlying mental health problems. Many are desperate because of their circumstances. Suicide is a complex issue and the reasons behind it are not fully understood.

Hence, making claims that a person ended their life for one or the other reason when you have never met the person, only creates misinformation and likely escalation in the suicide rate. Blaming dysfunctional parenting or lack of moral values when you are trying to help does not make sense more so if you are claiming to be a professional. It is certainly not due to a bad upbringing which was suggested by some ill-informed reporter on the state radio. Claims like the ‘suicide bomb’ has exploded as the headline by one of the local TV channels only makes the situation grim.

There are clear guidelines by WHO and other international organisations about the media reporting of suicide. Many countries around the world have adopted these ethics so that the suicide rate does not increase, and at the same time, sensible reporting helps with educating people and create awareness. Suicide is a very complex topic that presents a distinct set of challenges for journalists, who must balance reporting on a sensitive issue and informing the public while considering what influence coverage may have on vulnerable people, including the possibility of imitational behaviour. At the same time, avoiding intrusion into the grief of bereaved families. 

It is beyond the scope of this article to discuss the guidelines which can be found easily on the internet and do not take more than half an hour to go through and grasp the basics. In summary, avoid describing the methods of suicide like hanging or jumping particularly in the headline, include references to suicide being preventable and treatable, signpost links where people can get help from, avoid dramatic headlines like ‘suicide epidemic or suicide bomb’, stay away from sensational language, don’t be judgemental, don’t describe the death or its nature, or how long or how quickly the person died, don’t refer to specific location or hotspots, refrain from giving information like the height of bridge or depth of the river, avoid dramatic and emotive picture or videos- this can glamorise the death and some people can identify with the deceased. Avoid excessive coverage or front-page splash, lead story or links to previous suicides. 

Treat social media with caution and avoid mentioning or linking to comments, or websites/forums that promote or glamorise suicide. Similarly allowing comments on such posts can be very harmful if not moderated which is mostly the case. Avoid publishing any suicide notes or messages which may have been recorded may it be voice or video.  Speculation about the ‘trigger’ or cause of suicide can oversimplify the issue and should be avoided. Suicide is extremely complex and most of the time there is no single event or factor that leads someone to take their own life. 

Lastly, young people are more vulnerable when it comes to suicide. When covering the death of a young person, do not give undue prominence to the story or repeat the use of photographs, including galleries. Don’t use emotive, romanticised language or images – a sensitive, factual approach is much safer. Coverage that reflects the wider issues around suicide, including that it is preventable, can help reduce the risk of suicidal behaviour. Include clear and direct references to resources and support organisations. 

The administration ought to issue guidelines for media reporting of suicide urgently in consultation with the professionals from the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Kashmir. This should be based on evidence and not just to gag the media. We must be mindful of press freedom at the same time which is important more so in places like Kashmir.

Civil society can help with creating awareness, normalising help-seeking, and keeping vigil at any potential hotspots. Suicide must be treated as a complex issue. Removing access to the means and methods of suicide can be the difference between life and death. Lastly, please do not try to be an expert on suicides if you are not qualified or trained in the field even if you work in mental health. Please refer people to the professionals who can deal with it. 

The media must take responsibility and bring a positive change and not become the source of this tragedy in society. 

In summary, if you want to help and save lives, be sensible, non-judgemental, offer support if you think anyone is suicidal- ask them directly if they are thinking of it, listen to them, don’t rush into giving advice, make sure they are safe and remove any harmful articles, call for help and support them to see a professional. It is not your job to treat them or give them lessons on morality or faith. Remember, suicide is preventable, and you can save a life by simply being sensible and mindful. 

https://thekashmirwalla.com/2021/07/suicide-and-responsible-media-reporting-what-is-wrong-in-kashmir/

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Dr. Mudasir Firdosi is a Consultant Psychiatrist and Honorary Senior Lecturer at St. George’s, University of London. He is also an executive member of the Faculty of General Adult Psychiatry at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, London. He can be reached on Twitter at @drmfirdosi or email at mudasirfirdosi@gmail.com 

What should we do?

These are unprecedented times. We are worried, confused and distrustful. The
world is struggling to cope with the COVID 19 pandemic. There is no health system
in the world which can face the wrath of this unseen force. More than 760, 000 are
already infected and about 35, 000 deaths already and the numbers are increasing
day by day. The whole world has come to standstill, economies are crashing, people
losing livelihoods, and in some places, chaos is already setting in. Lots of rumours,
misinformation, fake news, and conspiracy theories, religious and other curses are
making rounds. Mankind is at war with himself. Countries which have far advanced
health systems and resources like the USA, Italy, the UK, and Iran are finding it hard
to provide appropriate treatment to everyone. What should we do in a place where
there is hardly any system and a makeshift administration? In times of such chaos,
you need a leader who people trust and listen to. We don’t have that either.

We need to be realistic. The health infrastructure, number of doctors, nurses and
other allied staff is nil to nothing when we look at the magnitude of this pandemic.
We cannot build hospitals like China did and even if we get some ventilators, there
are no intensive care facilities in most districts and who will operate them when we
do not have any trained nurses or paramedics available. The things are more
complex with COVID 19. Usually first port of call is a doctor or hospital when we
become unwell. Here if you go to the hospital, you can spread it to others including
the healthcare staff. There is no evidence that going to the hospital will help even if
you are tested positive. For those who do become severely unwell and need oxygen
and ventilator support, the prognosis is poor. In our setting, with a dearth of nursing
care, usually, families stay in the hospital, feed, nurse and buy medications from the
market. But here family members are likely to be infected if not symptomatic and if
not already infected, a hospital stay with an unwell patient will infect them. This
raises the question over who will nurse COVID 19 patients as there are not enough
nurses to do that job in Kashmir valley.

The authorities have just focused on testing and tracing people who had travelled
from outside state and this went to the level of propaganda, creating fear and
worsening preexisting stigma. Many people did not come forward with a travel
history and those put in so called quarantine, fled citing justifiable reasons like lack of
basic hygiene and putting dozens of people in the same room that feared likely to get
infected from each other. Even entire extended families of patients who died
because of COVID 19 are being put under alleged quarantine. This is not only
inhumane but hardly based on any scientific facts. Even in such pandemics, people
will need to grieve their dead.

Overall no one seems to be in-charge. One could have thought either director health
services or some other senior specialist from the public health or community

medicine will take the lead. Here we have different officials from the administration
trying to overdo each other without any thought or strategy. Demonizing people,
talking them down and then chasing them like criminals is not going help. There is no
focus on education; information sharing and making sure people don’t get inundated
by rumours through WhatsApp groups only. Can one fight a pandemic using the
decades’ old strategy of managing a political conflict with force and guns? No

What can be done?
It is time to be realistic keeping in view the infrastructure, healthcare staff and
magnitude of the pandemic which is only going to get worse. Everyone cannot be
tested or treated in a hospital. The virus has already spread in the community and
just focusing on anyone with a history of travel is not going to work. About 50 percent
infected do not show any symptoms but are contagious and carry on infecting others.
About 80% only have mild symptoms. So it is the asymptomatic people walking
around you who are spreading it as we speak. Everyone cannot be put in quarantine
or hospital and if we assume only 4 million will get infected out of 8 million; there is
no way of managing this pandemic in the hospital setting. If people are educated
and informed with clear guidelines with sincerity, most can stay home if having mild
to moderate symptoms of cough, fever, malaise and other symptoms. It is ideal to
test people to reduce contact and stress on self isolation in homes, but are there
enough resources to do mass testing.

Training and educating faith healers, peers, imams, and teachers and then using
them to propagate the message at the grass root level. Social distancing and self
isolation is the key to break the chain of spread from one to other. We know the
elderly and those with comorbid medical conditions are vulnerable with bad
prognosis. We have to buy time and protect the vulnerable in a hope that some
treatment or vaccine may be in available in the near future.
The healthcare staff and doctors need personal protective equipment (PPE),
otherwise we many lose may of them to illness and even death and if that happens,
we cannot deal with the pandemic for even few weeks. It is not enough to call them
god or bang plats for them unless there is an investment in healthcare and that
needs to be done now. Just focusing on buying new ventilators would hardly make
any difference if the healthcare staff is not protected in first place. The administration
needs to move on from the attitude of a police state to one of supportive to doctors,
rather than harassing them on the streets and beat them if they try to reach
hospitals.

Finally, people need to take responsibility. In this age, there is no dearth of
information. The internet is only partially restored but enough to know what to do and
what not to do. The infection is spread by droplets- coughing, sneezing, close
contact, hands, and aerosols in closed spaces. The virus lives on surfaces for hours
if touched and retouched. Washing your hands, not spitting in public, covering nose

and mouth when coughing, washing hands regularly, and keeping a distance from
each other is the best solution until we find a treatment. It is time to suspend
mosques, parties, weddings, offices, and any gathering completely. Funerals need to
be managed by professionals in full PPE as the virus is remains alive. These are not
easy times, people may not have food to eat, no jobs and income, so we have a
collective responsibility to look after each other and defeat this monster of a virus. As
Camus writes in his famous book Plague, ‘What’s true of all the evils in the world is
true of plague as well. It helps men to rise above themselves’, and I am sure we will
overcome this current age plague and be human again. Do not rely on hospitals,
doctors, peers, it is your life and only you can protect it for now by staying in your
homes and following the rules.

https://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/opinion/what-should-we-do/

We shall talk

https://mudasirfirdosi.wordpress.com/2019/09/14/we-shall-talk/

Kashmir: The epicentre of rumours

The recent rumour of child deaths due to polio vaccination created a situation of fear, anxiety and anger in entire Kashmir. It got so bad at the end that thousands of parents with their little ones ran from pillar to post for reassurance and in the process some miscreants victimised the doctors and damaged hospital properties. Let me make it clear that there was no death because of the polio vaccine. In fact, India including Jammu Kashmir is polio free because of the said vaccine.

Rumours are not new to mankind and have played an important role, positive or negative, throughout history and are known to peak during conflict, disasters and epidemics. Rumours have been described as public communications that are infused with private hypotheses about how the world works, or more specifically, ways of making sense to help us cope with our anxieties and uncertainties. Sometimes rumours can be the only source of entertainment when boredom peaks due to conflict situation and other sources of leisure are banned or prohibited. The prohibition can be due to cultural or religious reasons or simply enforced due to the prevailing situation. 

A lot of work has been done on rumour and rumour control during World Wars and other conflict situations. It is thought that rumours influence the morale of people and can threaten national interest at times. Various theories and laws about rumours have been formulated.

As per the ‘basic law of rumour’, the rumour strength will vary with the importance of the subject to the individual concerned times the ambiguity of the evidence pertaining to the topic at hand. People came up with criticism of this ‘basic law’ suggesting that the factor of importance is hard to define and it does not take the emotional context of rumour into account. 

A modified theory of rumour mongering was proposed which suggested rumours as an attempt to deal with anxieties and uncertainties by generating and passing stories and suppositions that can explain things, address anxieties, and provide a rationale for behaviour. Rumours can be ‘wish rumours’ invoking hope and ‘dread rumours’ invoking fear and disappointing consequences. 

People tend to spread rumours that they believe as credible (even the most ridiculous stories), but if the anxieties are intense, rumour mongers are unlikely to ponder on the logic or plausibility of what they are trying to pass to others. 

Research suggests that rumours serve as a window into people’s uncertainties and anxieties. Rumours might be projections of societal attitudes and motivations. Three categories of rumours have been suggested including pipe or dream rumours, bogies or fear rumours, and wedge-driving rumours.

Kashmir can be called the epicentre of rumours in the current age.  From seeing Sheikh Abdullah’s name on leaves, children will die unless seven bowls of rice are donated to Makdoom Sahab’s (RA) shrine or seeing thousands of dead bodies floating in recent floods, are just a few examples. What could be the reasons for the rumour epidemic in Kashmir?

Keeping in view the above discussion, it is not hard to imagine why rumours have a special place in our society and how many times all of us, irrespective of our background, have played into rumour propagation.

Have rumours helped us to safety at times?

Thinking about the last few decades, how many times have you run for your life, directionless not knowing why and where based on some rumour?  How many times the driver refused to go further when he was told the people are getting a beating? Rumours often played a part in getting people together, building cohesiveness and brotherhood.

I am not trying to argue that rumours are good or bad. But do rumours play a role in building the resilience of the society against the onslaught of disasters is another debate? It is interesting to note that death is a common theme of most rumours which speaks volumes about our fears and day to day experiences.

The never ending war like situation in Kashmir explains it all.  The valley has hardly any means of entertainment, everything which used to be done for leisure vanished with time. I remember the on street stage plays in villages when I was young, the folk tale etcetera often being played in the paddy fields during harvest season. There are no avenues of entertainment for children, no parks, sports grounds or safe spaces. Most of the open land is now fenced by barbed wire for various reasons. There are no theatres or libraries. Important of all, it is the safety and sense of insecurity, which does not allow people to do anything but to stay indoors.  The children are hardly allowed to wander free and explore and rightly so. There is a perpetual sense of insecurity and burden on shoulders of all, be it young or old. One can simply describe the entire population of chronic dysthymia, where pleasure and joy have become an alien concept. Any expression of happiness is seen as immoral or wrong for various reasons.  Hence, we have lost the usual cultural defences over decades but have not been able to adjust to the changes that have come with time. Even faith has become a matter of abuse than contentment.

With little to do, lack of employment, and ample time on hands, what else can one do but to play the rumour game? With the advent of social media, rumours have gained a high ground and it spreads like wildfire, not in days or hours but in seconds and minutes.

In addition, one does not need to leave the safety of the home, to be on social media. Everyone, old or young has a smartphone with internet connectivity and it is the only source of entertainment for all practical reasons. It gives a sense of false security for people in the conflict zone, to login and do whatever without thinking about consequences. One often forgets that this virtual world comes with its own realities and can lead to anarchy and chaos. It also leaves a record, unlike the traditional rumours.

Take the recent rumour about the polio vaccine, started by someone either out of boredom, malice or mere ignorance. Within hours, Kashmir was in frenzy and it was hard for any parent not to worry. People flocked to hospitals, worried sick about their young ones, seeking reassurance. We all know what happened. Authorities were too late to respond to the state of emergency created by a rumour.  In the process, many people lost their cool attacking doctors and ransacking hospital property. Who is to blame here? One can say it is the first person who started the rumour, or all those who passed it on without verifying. But do we ever verify anything, be it mouth to mouth or now mobile to mobile? As a result, what happened, everyone had something to do and talk about. Did it actually matter at what cost? Lakhs of parents probably did not sleep the night watching their children anxiously.  Many on social media went on abusing the parents of being ignorant, but seriously, do you really think it was their fault? One of my doctor friends messaged that although she knew it was a rumour; she couldn’t stop herself from checking the temperature of her little one for about hundred times in few hours.

It is fair to say what parents did was right and they deserved to be reassured. But at the same time, nothing justifies beating up the doctors or damaging public property. There is no reason to blame and take a dig on parents and calling them ignorant. In such situations when thousands of people throng hospitals looking for answers, it cannot be left to the doctor on duty to deal with the chaos. 

In a civilised system, it would be the head of the state, who will immediately use all the means of communication possible like TV, Radio, social media etcetera, and address the people putting them at ease. If not the head of the state, at least, the Director Health Services and other officials of the health department would take the front and deal with the situation. Unfortunately, in spite of so many disasters and tragedies over the years, our health system is yet to come with a plan or protocol for dealing with emergencies of any kind be it manmade, natural or simply as a result of rumour mongering.   Here the blame lies wholly with the health officials who not only failed worried parents but also their own employees.The administration has also failed to keep pace with the social media revolution to use it for the benefit of common people.

What is the solution to rumours in current age? There is no easy way out. Conflict is not a choice and may not end any sooner.  We all need to be responsible with the social media and use it rationally. One has to understand that it is as real as two people talking face to face and has same or even worse consequences if wrong things are said.  Rumour mongers need to reflect and find some other avenues of entertainment or seek help for their misery if required. Something needs to be done about leisure and entertainment other than social media. Let the social media help us to build a better society than create chaos and anarchy in an already disturbed and paranoid society.

http://risingkashmir.com/news/kashmir-the-epicentre-of-rumours/