A day before the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) was going to be held across the country amidst the coronavirus pandemic, Tamil Nadu had a very disturbing day. On September 12, three students who were set to give this exam were found dead in their homes. A 19-year-old student hung herself from the ceiling in Madurai, whereas a 21-year-old student in Namakkal along with a 19-year-old student in Dharmapuri also committed suicide.

According to the media reports, they all had appeared for NEET at least once before and were very anxious about giving it in this situation.

The student in Madurai, before hanging herself, wrote a suicide note to her parents saying that she would disappoint her family and others if she couldn’t clear the exam and get an MBBS seat. In the same week, another student and a NEET aspirant died by suicide in Tamil Nadu and was reportedly anxious about the exam. Similar cases were also reported from neighbouring states Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and others.

Students are not the only group who are facing mental health challenges heightened by COVID-19 pandemic. During the strict lockdown, which was imposed by the central government in March to contain the spread of COVID-19, a multitude of cases were reported where unfortunate migrant workers ended their own lives. Due to a sudden and complete job loss that was triggered by the overnight implementation of the lockdown made them hopeless and pushed to take the extreme step.

In many cases, people committed suicide due to fear of contracting COVID-19 and the social stigma that would follow. In Kerala and Tamil Nadu, many suicides were related to sudden alcohol withdrawal as liquor shops were completely shut in the lockdown.

Data that was collected by independent researchers, Kanika Sharma, Thejesh GN, Krushna and Aman by tracking media reports in the lockdown revealed that almost 133 people committed suicide because of fear of infection, lack of freedom of movement and loneliness. Almost 49 people died due to alcohol withdrawal.

In the last six months of the COVID-19 pandemic, India has seen an increase in mental health issues. Suicides are reported from various parts of the country associated with people from all occupations, from migrant workers and daily wagers, to farmers, frontline healthcare staff, students and celebrities.

Numerous studies have evidenced that not only in India but people around the world are also under huge mental stress due to the coronavirus pandemic. This disturbance has brought an uncertainty about what may happen next in their lives.

Experts have stated that an intense mental health crisis is in the world enough attention has not been given to this aspect of the pandemic. The World Health Organisation (WHO) found that the coronavirus pandemic has disturbed critical mental health services in 93 percent of the countries, according to a recent survey of 130 countries.

In the meantime, a study in the US has found that every third COVID-19 patient develops some kind of mental disorder. In India, officials at AIIMS, Patna, have also reportedly stated that approximately 30 percent of COVID-19 patients at the hospital were "mentally disturbed". The WHO stated that the pandemic is increasing the demand for mental health services and it has to meet the demand. Sadness, isolation, loss of income and fear are trigger factors of mental health conditions or can aggravate the existing ones. Several people face increased levels of alcohol and drug use along with insomnia and anxiety. COVID-19 itself can result in neurological and mental complications i.e. delirium, agitation and stroke.

Source: India Today