Hanging above your head.

T.W: The following post contains topics of suicide and self harm. Reader's discretion is advised.

In India each day 35 people take theirs lives , and their numbers are increasing at an alarming rate . The top cause of suicide is examination failure making a larger section of these student deaths. Stress and anxiety are the pro causal factors of suicide along with depression . Data shows , in the pandemic situation rates of death by self harm spiked high and are ever increasing.

More often than not victims of severe assaults by close family or friends are dealt insensitively. This plays a key role in tipping them into severe depression and manifest into suicidal tendencies. The overall ignorance towards one's mental health is a fatal trend glorified by many in our Indian society. Coming to the plight of students aspiring to crack a competitive examination, the humongous pressure of course curriculum and theirs parents alike choke holds them at all times. As if that wasn't enough, next comes the mentors who in the name of educating breaks their ever so broken morale into even smaller pieces.

Did you notice any similarities in the above two situations? They are both stories of tremendous struggle . I hope that one knows that so called "weak" people cannot survive these situations. Such survivors fight battles with themselves and others on a daily basis , often without any intermission. These struggles are tiring and nothing soothes our survivors, in the quest of just an ounce of comfort they implore on doing the drastic. Now , one might argue saying that " Why can't they find happiness in small things?" To that , my answer is , they suffer from depression, which makes one feel worthless , tired mess, from inside out. Another question or claim rather that," Depression is just a state of mind. Or It is just an excuse, How come they don't control their mind?" Dear reader, depression is as much physical as mental. One does not has their control on there hormones like serotonin, dopamine or histamine. And to the controlling of mind part, I say, are you sure that the speaker them-self have successfully mastered their mind?

Now dear reader, you might be wondering why am I so bold with my words today? The reason is that I myself am a survivor of depression and suicidal tendencies. This story is as much mine as of those survivors. Hence, its a humble request , that next time when you meet such survivors ,please do not try to lecture them, or point fingers at them or question their strength. They are anything but weak , and they are absolutely not answerable to anyone of us. Better so ,do not say anything or insist on knowing the gory details . If you do not have anything kind to say do not say at all. Already we as people were taught by our society that asking for help is a sign of weakness , adding to that is that false sense of "strength" among masses, lets not add on to that.

These words will remain mere words if my dearest reader do not be aware. Let us be the change .