KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Thursday appealed to the federal government to revisit and repeal the law that deals with suicide attempts.

In a message on World Suicide Prevention Day, he said that both suicide and attempted suicide were criminal acts under Section 325 (attempt to commit suicide) of the Pakistan Penal Code and attempt to suicide was punishable with a jail term and heavy financial penalty.

However, the chief minister added, that as a matter of fact, suicide was not a crime, but a “mental morbidity. Therefore, a victim should be dealt [with] as a patient, not as a criminal. Various countries, including the United Kingdom, which is the architect of law, have repealed the section,” he added.

Murad Ali Shah said that under-reporting of cases and reluctance of citizens to seek mental help was a direct result of that law.

“The government of Sindh, mental health professionals and civil society appeal and desire that the said law is repealed through legislation to enable citizens to seek and prioritise mental health and prevent suicide,” he added.

‘Victim should be dealt with as a patient, not as a criminal’

He said that the provincial government had taken steps to address the issue of mental health morbidity and mortality.

The Sindh Mental Health Authority (SMHA) established through an assembly act had undertaken various policy and service measures to address the challenges posed during Covid-19 epidemic, he added.

He said that the SMHA, since its inception in August 2017 and working as a health regulatory body, had tried to address mental health issues.

767 cases reported in five years

He said recently three surveys were conducted through the SMHA in the province to gather scientific data related to suicide trends.

“In the first quarter of this year [2021], Sindh Mental Health Authority published a report — Study of Registered Cases of Suicide between 2016-2020 across the Province of Sindh — conducted in collaboration with the provincial home and health departments,” he added.

Murad Ali Shah said that the findings of the study from initial survey, which included 767 cases from 2016-2020, showed that district of Tharparkar reported 79 suicidal deaths, highest in 2020, with 48 females and 31 males, followed by districts Badin, Dadu, Mirpurkhas, Sanghar, Umerkot, Tando Allahyar and Tando Mohammad Khan.

He said that Malir was ranked highest in Karachi division with 24 suicide cases between 2016 and 2020 out of total 75 suicide deaths reported in Karachi.

After the publication of the report on suicide rates in last five years across the province, the SMHA was asked to explore the root causes to establish facts on scientific basis.

The chief minister said that the SHMA conducted “psychological autopsy” of registered cases of suicide in district Tharparkar in collaboration with Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS), Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS), Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Karachi (JPMC), Sir Cowasjee Jahangir Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences Hyderabad (Sir CJIP&BS), University of Sindh (UoS) and Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) Thar foundation (TF).

He said that the psychological autopsy had reported some disturbing, but preventable trends.

The results of the psychological autopsy conducted in Thar were in line with international data showing more females and younger age group individuals dying by suicide.

The chief minister said the study found that 52 per cent suicides were pre-planned and 48pc suicides were sudden and impulsive acts as described by their family members.

It was noted that 15pc of suicide victims had attempted suicide previously before “completed suicide”.

“Social difficulties, interpersonal conflicts and financial problems were reported to be major risk factors behind suicide,” he said.

Murad Ali Shah said that another survey Psychosocial impact of Covid-19, a Cross Sectional Survey of Sindh, 2021 was conducted by interviewing 1,494 individuals in six rural and six urban cites of the province to find out the impact of Covid-19 on mental health.

“Almost 62pc reported major loss of income or earning due to pandemic which was more pronounced in rural [81pc then urban 43pc] setting.”

He said that when asked directly 24pc individuals reported “receiving funds through government agency”, adding that the estimated prevalence of depression as assessed on self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ-21) was 42pc.

The CM said that when inquired about the financial difficulties, 36pc reported borrowing money, while 21pc reported selling property, possessions or livestock.

This survey was done in collaboration with HANDS, DUHS, LUMHS, CJIP, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Law College, Malir and Edhi Foundation by SMHA.

“The findings of this survey are expected to help design strategies from relevant government agencies, NGOs, INGOs and other stakeholders concerned,” he added.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2021