Mangaluru, (The Hindu): There are many reasons for a person to commit suicide which can be found through psychological autopsy. But this cannot be done when political colour is given to a suicide that vitiates the whole process of finding reasons for suicide, said Shrinivasa Bhat Undaru, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, K.S. Hegde Medical Academy Hospital, Deralakatte here on Thursday.

Psychological autopsy involves speaking to victim’s family, friends and victim’s close contacts.

Speaking at a workshop for teachers on mental health and drug abuse, Dr. Undaru said while post-mortem reveals the cause of death, a psychological autopsy reveals reasons that forced a person to commit suicide.

Sadly, Dr. Undaru said, it was becoming a trend now to give political colour to suicide. With political interference, a sense of mistrust creeps in, and it hampers the process of finding the real reasons.

“If a person commits suicide, the victim’s relatives and close friends are in high risk group for suicide,” he said and expressed the need for a support system and counselling for those with suicidal tendencies.

Dr. Undaru asked teachers to spend more time with persons who are found with suicidal tendency. “You need to put such persons at ease and give a patient hearing to his/ her problems. Do not be judgemental to what the victim is saying.”

Such an effort, Dr. Undaru said, will help a person to come out of the thought of committing suicide. Proper counselling and sustained care would help victim overcome difficulties he/ she was facing and remove the thought of suicide forever. Such assistance to victims will go a long way in building a health society, Dr. Undaru said.

The workshop was organised by the District Health and Family Welfare Department in association with the District Legal Services Authority and District Administration. Fourth Additional District and Sessions Judge N.S. Bhavani inaugurated the programme.

Member Secretary of District Legal Services Authority Mallanagowda and District Surgeon H. Rajeshwaridevi participated in the programme.