Victim women more prone to suicide
Experts tell seminar
Suicidal tendency is higher among women victimised by different forms of domestic violence than non-victims, experts said at a seminar yesterday.
The tendency rises with the increasing degree of violence, they said, referring to some studies conducted in and outside the country.
The experts also stressed the need for educating guardians to prevent suicide among the teens, especially girls, the most vulnerable section of the population.
It is unfortunate that in most families, girl children feel isolated and suffer the need of affection when a family already has one or more daughters. Isolation may drive the girls into suicide, Dr Mehtab Khanoa, a psychology professor at Dhaka University (DU), said.
To prevent the loss, family members should emphasise company and create an environment of sharing joys and sorrows so that no member can feel isolated, she added.
She also requested parents not to squabble before children.
Shamima Begum, deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said police have been coordinating with 10 non-government organisations (NGOs) to prevent suicides.
The law enforcement agency is also thinking of launching helpline service at 41 DMP stations to help girls with counselling, she added.
The seminar, "Suicide among women: Context and prevention", was organised jointly by Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF), the Society for Voluntary Activities (SOVA), and the clinical psychology department of DU at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban.
MJF executive director Shaheen Anam chaired the programme.
Torikul Islam, secretary to the women and children affairs ministry; Moazzem Hossain, director of the social services department; Dr Mahbuba Nasrin, a social science professor at DU; and Jahidul Islam, executive director of the SOVA; also spoke.
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