A close look at the inner turmoil

Through all of this, everybody seems to be questioning the role that her ‘online break-up’ played in driving her to this extreme step.  However, several psychological experts suggest that this kind of cause-and-effect reasoning is too simplistic an approach to understand the motives behind a suicide; that, in fact, a majority of suicides can’t be attributed to external factors, but to a certain state of mind. Metrolife speaks to a few psychiatrists and students to get their take on the matter.

Dr Shyam Bhat, a psychiatrist and integrative medicine specialist, is of the opinion that it’s a mistake to try and point a suicide to a single external factor. He explains,

“Whenever we read about suicides, we’re told that the victim killed himself or herself either because they were shouted at by someone, or because they were going through financial difficulties, etc. But in the absence of pre-existing emotional problems, these things are unlikely to precipitate suicide.”

These pre-existing issues are various: the victim might suffer from depression and a sense of worthlessness, or might be bipolar.  Impulsiveness is also a contributor, since most suicides are impulsive decisions.

As Dr Bhat says, “There are several people who survive attempted suicides, and admit that at the last moment they knew they were making a big mistake. It’s an impulsive act and often victims change their mind about it if a little time passes.”

Dr Santosh Loganathan, also a psychiatrist, agrees with this perspective. While he admits that external factors often act as a trigger when it comes to suicide, he adds that more often than not, it has a lot to do with internal factors, like the victim’s personality and methods of dealing with stress.

“In suicide cases, psychiatrists perform what it called a ‘psychological autopsy’. We talk to people who were significant to the victim, like friends and family, to find out about the kind of lifestyle they lived, the psychological and social problems they faced, whether she was depressed or on medication — anything that might have contributed to this decision,” he explains.

Mayank Sharma, an engineering student, agrees that a mere tiff with one’s boyfriend doesn’t translate into a reason to commit suicide. “Breaking up is very common these days, and suicide definitely isn’t the answer to this kind of situation. Malini Murmu must have been under some sort of extreme mental pressure or she wouldn’t have taken such a drastic step,” he says.

He adds that he personally knew someone who killed himself last year, and that the situation was similar.

“The official reason given for his suicide was that he had an attendance shortage. But there was a much bigger story behind it,” he explains. Jitesh Balani, who studies business management, feels that while certain incidents might prove to be a trigger, the fact that someone is ready to take their own life points to much deeper problems.

 “In the case of Malini Murmu, even though the fight with her boyfriend might have triggered this decision, there’s a lot more to it. It might be that she was simply a weak person,” he says, adding that he could never imagine himself in the same situation.