Launching ceremony will be held today June 3 at Mithi town and the process will continue for a week – SMHA Chairman
SMHA will also conduct another study on “Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on Mental Health in the General Population of Sindh” from June 8
Sindh Courier Report
Karachi: The Psychological Autopsy of Suicide Cases in different Talukas of Desert District Tharparkar will be launched from Thursday June 3 (Today) and will continue for a week to ascertain the causes of ending the precious lives.
The Psychological Autopsy of the suicide cases will be conducted in Mithi, Islamkot, Diplo and Nagarparkar Talukas by Sindh Mental Health Authority (SMHA) with the support of Thar Foundation and other stakeholders.
The launching ceremony will be held at Mithi town, SMHA Chairman Dr. Karim Khuwaja told. “The psychological autopsy of suicide cases would be a sort of investigation to find out the circumstances that compels one to end his or her life. And for that purpose, the SMHA has also sought the permission in writing to have a legal cover,” he told.
During the case study, conducted by teams consisting of male and female members, the interviews of siblings, parents and friends of deceased persons will be conducted besides collecting the medical history, psychiatric history, financial problems, hardships etc. The interview of colleagues, family members and any collection of information regarding physical or other illness of deceased up till committing the suicide by him or her will help to know the factors behind suicide. “The family of the victim will have to be explained why we are doing this and the name of the person (he or she) will be kept secret,” he added.
To a query, Dr. Karim said that the SMHA has identified and selected some 27 cases in Mithi, Islamkot, Chhachhro, Diplo and Nagarparkar Talukas for conducting psychological autopsy, first ever of its kind in Sindh.
He said that Thar Foundation will be implementing partner to provide logistic facilities in carrying out the study. “On technical side the SMHA has engaged Sir Cowasji Jahangir Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Hyderabad, Dow University of Health Sciences Karachi, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center Karachi’s Psychiatry Ward, University of Sindh and Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences Jamshoro, and health department Tharparkar for coordination.”
“The study aims to get deeper insight of these suicide cases to identify triggers of suicides in Tharparkar. In the light of findings of study, the government can frame the policies, which will surely leave a positive impact and decrease or finish the trend of committing the suicide in the society,” Dr. Karim said.
At the launching ceremony, Prof. Syed Haider Raza Naqi, Head of Department, Dow University, will speak on project and its methodology. SMHA Chairman Dr. Karim Khuwaja, Psychiatrist Dr. Ali Wasif, Vice Chancellor LUMHS Dr. Bekha Ram, DHO Tharparkar Dr. Gordhan Das, SSP Tharparkar Sardar Khan Niazi, Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Nawaz Soho and representative of Thar Foundation will also address the event.
The SMHA had also conducted a webinar on ‘How to conduct Psychological Autopsy of Suicide Patients’ during Ramadan.
The SMHA is conducting some more studies on mental disorders. It has already carried out a study of registered cases of suicide since last five years i.e. from 2016-2020 in Sindh.
I will conduct another study on “Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on Mental Health in the General Population of Sindh” starting from June 8, 2021, along with stakeholders like HANDS, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi University Psychological Dept. Edhi Foundation and Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Law College, Malir. “The HANDS organization will hold an online training session on June 8 at head office. The study will cover about a dozen districts,” Dr. Karim Khuwaja told.
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