Dr. Avnish Jolly, Chandigarh, 20th May, 2008:Recently study conducted in the Army which found an increased trend to attempt suicide amongst wives of serving defense personnel. Hence there is urgent need for intervention focusing on the risk factors for suicide related with wives of military personnel.
The study was undertaken after officials in a military sought advice for intervention after noting a “worrying trend” of suicides and cases of attempted suicide amongst wives of serving defense personnel.
Study noted that in the Indian context, disturbed family relationship and domestic violence, alcoholism, psychiatric and chronic physical illness, recent bereavement, inability to have children and harassment for dowry are factors that precipitate suicidal tendencies.
It has been undertaken by Lt Col T Madhusudan, classified specialist (psychiatry), Command Hospital, Chandimandir, Col S Chaudhary (retd) and Brig P K Chakraborty (retd), Director Ranchi Institute of Neuro-Psychiatry and Allied Sciences. “A comprehensive suicide prevention programme should be evolved after studying the social context, culture, prevalent psychopathology, perceived stressors, vulnerabilities and triggers for a particular community,” the study has recommended.
A questionnaire designed to draw out risk factors for suicide, suicide attempts and suicide idealism by wives of serving defense personnel in the Indian context. It was administered to 222 wives of defense personnel. This included wives of officers, junior commissioned officers and other ranks, representative of the ranks of the personnel.
The study found that about 28 per cent were childless. Alcoholism in husbands was reported by 10 per cent and domestic violence by four respondents. Six respondents had lost their spouses in the past year; chronic illness was reported by 10 women and psychiatric illness by four.
There was no study available on the risk factors for suicide in wives of defense personnel in India, the researchers have suggested that the study could provide the basis for certain improvements to local commanders for incorporating preventive measures for those at risk. A community mental health team of psychologists and social workers, with the local military authorities providing a secretariat and other resources, could implement and integrate this preliminary framework into an organisational agenda, the researchers have suggested. Even AWWA –Army Wife Welfare Association plays vital role through different recreational activities to overcome this problems.