Jamshedpur, Sept. 9: Suicide is the common way of running away from life. Failure in any field has driven many a person to suicide.

The rates are higher in cities and metropolitans, thanks to fast living, cut throat competition, stories of instant success and big dreams spun and showcased in films and television.

With urbanisation of towns like Jamshedpur and Ranchi, this trend has set in here also.

Depression, loneliness and suicide and much more were discussed at the talk organised by Jeevan, a city-based suicide prevention centre at Chamber Bhavan in Bistupur today.

On the eve of World Suicide Prevention Day Neena Agarwal, a Ranchi-based psychiatrist, was in steel city to make people aware about depression and how it is slowly becoming an integral part of their lives.

Survey conducted by Jeevan show that the percentage of suicides has increased manifolds and it has hit alarming among youngsters.

“Nowadays people do not enquire about each other’s well being. Often when people are in distress, others refrain from helping him. People unable to communicate their problems to others often resort to suicide. Loneliness and depression have become friends of people,” said Agarwal.

Academics, pressure from teachers, parents and glorifying of victory and constant fear of failure have taken its toll on youngsters. Problems are there but the way of approaching it has changed. However if parents or guardians look into the matter and take proper care of the children then the suicide graph might show a southward bend.

Agarwal said some of the symptoms of depression are flickering mood, loss of apetite, loss of libido, ideas of hopelessness thought the causes may vary.

“People think if somebody is mentally ill then he/she needs to visit a psychiatrist. I want to convey that if they come across any of these symptoms they should take their wards to a psychiatrist before it is too late,” said Agarwal.