Suicide Statistics for 2010, India

Suicide Statistics for 2010 is out : 69/130 women are housewives who committed suicide every day. 139 committed suicide per day Age 0-23] 123 committed suicide per day: [30-44] .................................................................................. SUICIDES  15 Suicides took place every hour.  More than one lakh persons (1,34,599) in the country lost their lives by committing suicide during the year 2010.  It is observed that social and economic causes have led most of the males to commit suicides whereas emotional and personal causes have mainly driven females to end their lives.  Suicides because of ‘Family Problems’ (23.7%) and ’Illness’ (21.0%) combined accounted for 44.7% of total Suicides.  The percentage of suicides due to 'Property Dispute' and 'Death of dear person' showed a relatively higher increase of 48.0% and 28.9% respectively.  The overall male:female ratio of suicide victims for the year 2009 was 65:35, however, the proportion of Boys : Girls suicide victims (upto 14 years of age) was 52:48.  Nearly 70.5% of the suicide victims were married males while 67.0% were married females.  Five States – Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh – accounted for 65.8% of suicide victims in the age group 60 years and above.  69.2% of the suicide victims were married while 30.8% were un-married.  26.3% of the suicide victims were primary educated and 22.7% were middle educated while 19.8% of victims of suicide were illiterate.  1 suicide for every 5 suicides is committed by a Housewife.  41.1% of suicide victims were self employed while only 7.5% were un-employed.  Government servants were merely 1.4% of the total suicide victims.  West Bengal (11.9%), Andhra Pradesh (11.8%), Tamil Nadu (12.3%), Maharashtra (11.8%) and Karnataka (9.4%) contributed 57.2% of total suicide victims.  West Bengal has reported the highest number of suicide victims (accounting for 11.9%) in 2008 & 2009 and second highest in 2010 (accounting for 11.9%).  Southern States viz. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu including Maharashtra have accounted for 51.7% of total suicides reported in the country.  Sikkim and Puducherry has reported 45.9 and 45.5 respectively suicidal deaths per one lakh of population as against the National average of 11.4. Cont... ( i x ) SUICIDES  More than (55.9%) children suicide victims belonged to five states – Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu out of 3,130 suicide victims.  Sikkim reported the highest rate of suicide (45.9) followed by Puducherry (45.5), A & N Islands (36.1), Kerala (24.6) and Chhattisgarh (26.6).  Tamil Nadu has reported significant increase in Suicides (16,561) in 2010 over 2009 (14,424) (an increase of 14.8%) followed by Maharashtra (from 14300 in 2009 to 15916 in 2010).  The highest number of Mass/Family Suicides cases were reported from Bihar (23) followed by Kerala (22) and Madhya Pradesh (21) and Andhra Pradesh (20) out of 109 cases.  33.1% of the suicide victims consumed poison; 31.4% of the victims died by hanging, 8.8% by Fire/Self-Immolation and 6.2% by Drowning. The trend of Suicide by Hanging has been mixed during last 3 years (32.2% in 2008, 31.5% in 2009 and 31.4% in 2010) while Suicide by Poisoning has shown decreasing trend in 2007 and 2008 (34.8% in 2008, 33.6% in 2009 and 33.1% in 2010).  Bengaluru (1,778), Chennai (1,325), Delhi (1,242) and Mumbai (1,192) – the four cities together have reported almost 40.5% of the total suicides reported from 35 mega cities.  Jabalpur has reported the highest rate of 41.5 and Kolkata reported the lowest rate at 2.1 only among 35 cities.  The pattern of suicides reported from 35 cities showed that ‘Hanging’ (44.5%), ‘Poisoning’ (20.6%) and ‘Fire/Self Immolation’ (12.6%) were the prominent means adopted by the suicide victims in the cities.  There is significant increase in number of suicides (136.5%) in Patna (from 63 in 2009 to 149 in 2010) while Dhanbad showed sharp decline of 60.5% (from 152 suicides in 2009 to 60 suicides in 2010).  The suicide rate in cities (12.7) was higher as compared to All-India suicide rate (11.4).

Wales Football Manager Gary Speed commits suicide

Gary Speed suicide: Police prepare to speak to his grieving widow and teenage sons Tributes pour in from across the sporting world Found by his wife at the family home Flags flying at half-mast at Welsh Assembly building in Cardiff Supporters leave flowers, shirts and scarves outside the grounds where he used to play Inquest will open at Warrington Coroner's Court tomorrow at 3pm Ryan Giggs: 'Words cannot describe how I feel' By Keith Gladdis, James Tozer and Rob Cooper Last updated at 6:20 PM on 28th November 2011 Police were today preparing to speak to the grieving widow and the two teenage sons of Gary Speed about his death. The Wales manager's wife found him hanged in the garage of their £1.5million mansion yesterday, The Times reported, hours after he had appeared on the BBC. The world of football was in mourning today following the tragedy as tributes to the 42-year-old retired footballer poured in. The final picture: Gary Speed poses with a fan at the BBC studios in Salford as he recorded Match of the Day. Hours later he was found dead The final picture: Gary Speed poses with a fan at the BBC studios in Salford as he recorded Match of the Day. Hours later he was found dead A spokesman for Cheshire Police said: 'It is a non-suspicious death. As part of the coroner's report they will speak to family members. It is normal procedure.' Speed's family said this afternoon that they had been 'overwhelmed' with messages of support and condolence. Speaking outside the star's Cheshire home, Speed's agent and best man at his wedding, Hayden Evans, said: 'Gary's family would sincerely like to thank all the people that have sent messages of condolence and tributes in what is a very difficult time. 'We have been overwhelmed by the support and it really has helped. 'We would ask that the family are now given the respect of some privacy to just grieve on their own.' Gary Speed's widow, Louise, 40, was a constant figure of support throughout his career. The Welsh Football Association have promised to support the family and offer them a 'shoulder to cry on' in the coming weeks. Gary Speed, with his wife Louise, earlier this year at Shay Given's Fashion Kicks event held at Lancashire County Cricket Club Gary Speed, with his wife Louise, earlier this year at Shay Given's Fashion Kicks event held at Lancashire County Cricket Club Just hours before he hanged himself he was photographed posing with a delighted fan outside the BBC studios in Manchester. The Wales manager looked carefree as he allowed fans to take snaps of him after he had appeared on Football Focus. The retired footballer was in good spirits as he walked out of the studios with former teammate Gary McAllister at 2.30pm on Saturday. Supporters of the teams Speed played for were today leaving flowers, shirts and scarves outside their grounds as a mark of respect. At the Welsh Assembly building in Cardiff, flags were flying at half-mast today. Prime Minister David Cameron described Gary Speed's death as 'incredibly moving'. 'I was watching Match Of The Day last night and watching people, crowds, absolutely silent and footballers revering his memory,' he said. 'I think it has been extremely moving. Obviously here in the north, where he played for so many of the iconic teams, I know he meant an enormous amount to people and people feel very, very sad on his behalf and on his family's behalf.' During Football Focus on BBC1, Speed talked enthusiastically about his team’s improving fortunes and his hopes for success in World Cup qualifying matches next year. Presenter Dan Walker, who spent four hours on and off camera with him, said: ‘He was as bubbly as I’ve known him. He was talking about his kids, how they were really coming on, and talking about playing golf next week. ‘Even small things like how he’d just got into Twitter. It’s awful to think someone who was so gifted and so well liked with the rest of his life to look forward to has been cruelly removed. He was in such a good mood about the show and said he’d love to come back before Christmas.’ The suspected suicide at the family home in Huntington, on the outskirts of Chester, was reported to police just after 7am. They said there were ‘no suspicious circumstances’. An inquest into the death will open at Warrington Coroner's Court at 3pm tomorrow. Scroll down to see video of his last appearance on Football Focus Paying their respects: Fans at Leeds United's ground Elland Road show their grief at former player Gary Speed's death Paying their respects: Fans at Leeds United's ground Elland Road show their grief at former player Gary Speed's death Tributes: Hundreds of tributes including photographs, shirts and bouquets of flowers have been left at the Elland Road ground Tributes: Hundreds of tributes including photographs, shirts and bouquets of flowers have been left at the Elland Road ground Rest in Peace: Mourners leave flowers at Gary Speed's house A decorated t-shirt is left on the ground as tributes are placed at the Billy Bremner statue outside Elland Road football ground Rest in Peace: Mourners leave flowers at Gary Speed's house in Cheshire, left. Right: A decorated T-shirt is left on the ground as tributes are placed at the Billy Bremner statue outside Elland Road A friend described Speed as a ‘completely devoted dad’ to sons Ed, 14, and 13-year-old Tommy. Both are promising sportsmen. Ed is a footballer and Tommy a keen boxer. The chief-executive of the Welsh Football Association, Jonathan Ford, said they will do whatever they can to help the Speed family over the coming weeks. More... 20 years at the top of his game: The life and times of Gary Speed Gary Speed 1969-2011: A devastating day for football as Wales boss dies at 42 Jamie Redknapp: Athlete, goalscorer and a rival I got to know as a Top Man Giggs leads the tributes to Gary Speed as football is left in shock 'I've no understanding of why it happened, I don't know the answer and I don't think we ever will,' he said. 'At the moment our thoughts aren't with that - they are with Gary's family. He was a family man, he loved his wife and children. Paying his respects: Former Everton player Graeme Sharp looks at tributes left outside the gates to Goodison Park Paying his respects: Former Everton player Graeme Sharp looks at tributes left outside the gates to Goodison Park Never forget: A Newcastle scarf is tied to the entrance to his Cheshire home Never forget: A Newcastle scarf is tied to the entrance to his Cheshire home Respects: A book of condolences in memory of Gary Speed is opened at the Football of Wales offices in Cardiff Respects: A book of condolences in memory of Gary Speed is opened at the Football of Wales offices in Cardiff 'We will do whatever we can to help Louise and the boys although I am not sure we can help. 'We will just do whatever we think is right at this terrible, terrible time. We got together as a staff this morning and went into a huddle and cried. All I can offer is a shoulder to cry on. 'It was just a year ago we were announcing him as a manager he was sat next to me and now he is no longer here. 'Gary was our number one choice for the job because of who he was and what he was like as an individual.' A book of remembrance was opened at the FAW headquarters in Cardiff yesterday and hundreds queued up to sign it. Speed's assistant manager Raymond Verheijen said his boss was 'adored' by Wales stars such as Gareth Bale, Craig Bellamy and Aaron Ramsey. He said: 'I remember him as a beautiful person, a very stable person full of energy. 'Every time he stepped into a room he energised the place. You could see the players adored him. They really looked up to him. 'He was the perfect example of practise what you preach and the players really followed him. 'When we sat down with one player for individual talks you could how open the players were to listen to his advice.' Robbie Savage, who played alongside Speed for Wales, said his former teammate had been ribbing him on Saturday about his appearance on Strictly Come Dancing. ‘I just can’t believe it,’ said Savage. ‘He was my mate and he’s gone. I’ve got very close to Gary in the last few years – the guy is a trooper, he’s left two gorgeous kids behind and a beautiful wife. He had everything. Players and fans held a minute's silence in memory of the Wales manager before the match between Swansea City and Aston Villa Players and fans held a minute's silence in memory of the Wales manager before the match between Swansea City and Aston Villa Respect: The Kop falls silent as Manchester City and Liverpool players pay their respects to Gary Speed before their Premier League match yesterday Respect: The Kop falls silent as Manchester City and Liverpool players pay their respects to Gary Speed before their Premier League match yesterday FOOTBALL STARS PAY THEIR RESPECTS TO SPEED ON TWITTER Gary Speed's former teammates and opponents have been paying tribute to him after he was discovered dead yesterday. Rio Ferdinand tweeted: 'RIP Gary Speed - a great professional. Never knew him but seemed a real decent fella. Thoughts go out to the family at a devastating time. ' Joey Barton said: 'Really felt for Shay Given there. Know he was really close to Speedo. Very emotional that, true professional, its what GS would of wanted.' Stan Collymore wrote: 'Sincere condolences from my family to Mr & Mrs Speed and Gary's 2 boys. Frightened and confused as I'm sure many are right now.' Lee Dixon tweeted: 'In the States. Heard the tragic news very late. Totally shocking. A true Pro. A pleasure to be in his company. Thoughts to Gary's family.' Tom Huddlestone wrote: 'RIP Gary Speed!! Thoughts to his family and friends!! 1st shirt I swapped in the premier league, when he was at bolton £perspective Don't take things for granted!! RIP Gary Speed.' Micah Richards said: 'R.I.P gary speed!!! A true legend!!!' Mark Bright tweeted: 'Today feels like one huge nightmare, can't process Gary Speed's death, 42yrs old, his job going well, couple young kids, seems so wrong.' Boy George tweeted: 'Shocking about Gary Speed! What a sad story! My thoughts and prayers to his loved ones!' Comedian John Bishop tweeted: 'Enjoyed the day at the match but the Gary Speed news really does put it in perspective. God bless to him and his family.' ‘I spoke to him yesterday and we were laughing and joking – he was saying make sure you don’t get a (mark of) two off Craig (Revel Horwood, the Strictly judge) tonight. That’s what Gary’s like – he always thinks about other people. ‘As my captain when I was a young boy in the squad, he’d come to me and I could go to him with my problems.’ Speed’s former Newcastle United teammate Shay Given, who attended a charity fundraising fashion event with him in May, was seen in floods of tears on television as a minute’s silence was held at Swansea City’s match against Given’s team Aston Villa. Thousands of fans sang Welsh hymns and joined in the chant ‘there’s only one Gary Speed’. At Anfield, Liverpool’s Welsh star Craig Bellamy asked not to play against Manchester City after hearing the news. Speed, who was awarded an MBE in the 2010 Birthday Honours, retired from playing only last year after winning 85 caps for his country. He represented Leeds United, Everton, Newcastle and Bolton Wanderers during his long career. Both Speed’s parents were from Chester but he was born in the Welsh border town of Mancot and was always proud to represent his country. His father Roger played football for Wrexham before returning to his trade as a joiner. Speed made his league debut for Leeds United in May 1989 and was a member of the team which went on to win the league title in 1992. He was a familiar face in his home village and at the Grosvenor Arms pub in nearby Aldford. Neighbour Stephen Smith, 36, said: ‘It is such a shock. I’m an Everton season ticket holder and shouted his name from the terraces at Goodison Park.’ Helen Hewitt, who has a cottage near Speed’s mansion, said: ‘I cannot believe it. He was such a lovely man. ‘Parcels would be delivered for him here and he would come and collect them. ‘He would always wave from his big, black Jaguar car.’ Despite having limited experience as a manager, Gary Speed’s impact on the Welsh national team had been dramatic. Pundit: Gary appearing on Football Focus with Gary McAllister hours before he was found dead. The Welsh national manager had appeared happy and optimistic Pundit: Gary appearing on Football Focus with Gary McAllister hours before he was found dead. The Welsh national manager had appeared happy and optimistic On the touchline: Former Wales manager Gary Speed Tragic Gary Speed receiving his MBE from Prince Charles in December last year Tragic Gary Speed receiving his MBE from Prince Charles in December last year (right) and on the touchline for Wales (left) Gary Speed during the preliminary draw for the 2014 Fifa World Cup at Marina Da Gloria in July Gary Speed during the preliminary draw for the 2014 Fifa World Cup at Marina Da Gloria in July He had a keen interest in sports psychology and after taking over from John Toshack a year ago was able to get the best out of young players such as Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey and Tottenham’s Gareth Bale. Ramsey tweeted: ‘I was given the tragic news this morning. ‘To say I am devastated is an understatement. ‘My thoughts and prayers go out to Gary’s family and friends. Today the world has lost a great football manager but even more sadly a great man. He will be missed by all.’ Former Wales manager Mark Hughes said: ‘I’m devastated. He was a privilege to work alongside and call a friend. My thoughts are with his family.’ Another ex-Wales boss, Bobby Gould, chose Speed to be the team captain. Gary Speed's former agent and best man Hayden Evans addresses the press outside Speed's home in Chester. He asks that the family be left alone to grieve for their loss Gary Speed's former agent and best man Hayden Evans addresses the press outside Speed's home in Chester. He asks that the family be left alone to grieve for their loss Tragedy: Chief executive of the Football Association of Wales Jonathan Ford and President of the Football Association of Wales, Phil Pritchard, tell a press conference they will be supporting Gary Speed's family in the coming days Tragedy: Chief executive of the Football Association of Wales Jonathan Ford and President of the Football Association of Wales, Phil Pritchard, tell a press conference they will be supporting Gary Speed's family in the coming days Sadness: Speed's friend Shay Given couldn't hide his emotions before Aston Villa's game against Swansea Hugo Viana pays his respects to former team mate Gary Speed Distraught: Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given, left, who played with Speed at Newcastle, burst into tears before his side's game against Swansea yesterday. Right, Hugo Viana, another former Newcastle teammate who now plays in Portugal, pays his respects Former Wales teammate Robbie Savage speaking about the death of Gary Speed on BBC News Former Wales teammate Robbie Savage speaking about the death of Gary Speed on BBC News Mr Speed's family home at Huntington Hall in Cheshire, where he was found dead at the age of 42 Mr Speed's family home in Cheshire, where he was found dead at the age of 42 In mourning: Huntington Hall in Cheshire, where Mr Speed lived with his wife Louise and two children In mourning: The home where Mr Speed lived with his wife Louise and two teenage children Respect: A note left on a Wales shirt outside Cardiff City's stadium Respect: A note left on a Wales shirt outside Cardiff City's stadium He said: ‘I’m stunned and a few tears have been shed. It is so sad. ‘He was a great pro. He would play anywhere for you – left back, left wing, centre of midfield, wide left. It’s such a tragedy. ‘People are just stunned. I saw (Welsh footballer) John Hartson earlier and I said, “Have you heard about Gary?”. The big man just cried and cried. We cuddled each other.’ Manchester United and Wales footballer Ryan Giggs said: ‘Gary Speed was one of the nicest men in football and someone I am honoured to call a teammate and friend. Words cannot begin to describe how sad I feel at hearing this awful news.’ A Downing Street spokesman said: ‘The Prime Minister was deeply saddened to hear of the death of Gary Speed, who was greatly respected by football fans across the country both as a player and manager. ‘The Prime Minister’s thoughts are with his family and friends on this very sad day for fans everywhere, especially in Wales.’ Labour leader Ed Miliband tweeted: ‘Tragic and shocking news about Gary Speed. Fantastic servant of Leeds. Mourned by football. Deepest condolences to his family.’ Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish, who signed Speed when he was manager of Newcastle, said that it had been difficult to concentrate on his side’s match with Manchester City yesterday afternoon. But he added: ‘I think it would be disrespectful to Gary if we didn’t get on with the game so we’ve just got to try and get on with it as best we can. ‘He was a very respected man in and around football, not only for his ability but for the guy as a person.’ For confidential support call Aasra on 91-22-27546669, www.aasra.info or the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 or visit a local Samaritans branch - see www.samaritans.org for details Cardiff City: A couple embrace as they look at tributes to Wales manager Gary Speed left outside Cardiff's ground Cardiff City: A couple embrace as they look at tributes to Wales manager Gary Speed left outside Cardiff's ground Everton: Tributes are left to Wales football manager Gary Speed on the gates of Goodison Park stadium Everton: Tributes are left to Wales football manager Gary Speed on the gates of Goodison Park stadium Sheffield United: Fans leave tributes outside their Bramall Lane ground. Gary Speed was the Sheffield United caretaker manager last season and he also played for them Sheffield United: Fans leave tributes outside their Bramall Lane ground. Gary Speed was the Sheffield United caretaker manager last season and he also played for them Newcastle fans pay their respects at St James' Park following the sudden death of former midfield player Gary Speed who was found dead at his home Newcastle United: Fans pay their respects at St James' Park following the sudden death of former midfield player Gary Speed who was found dead at his home Respects: A huge pile of flowers, shirts, teddies, scarves and cards builds up at Leeds United's ground Elland Road today as fans pay tribute to Gary Speed. He was in the side that won the Football League in 1992 Leeds United: A huge pile of flowers, shirts, teddies, scarves and cards builds up at Leeds United's ground Elland Road today as fans pay tribute to Gary Speed. He was in the side that won the Football League in 1992 Happy memories: Gary Speed (centre) celebrates Leeds United winning the Championship trophy in 1992 Happy memories: Mr Speed (centre) celebrates Leeds United winning the Championship trophy in 1992 Patriotic: Gary Speed flies the flag of his country at a Football Association of Wales press conference Patriotic: Flying the flag at a Football Association of Wales press conference GARY SPEED'S ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER Gary Speed married wife Louise in 1996. The couple have two children Tommy and Ed. A keen Everton fan, as a youngster Speed attended Hawarden High School. He began his professional career with Leeds United making his debut at the age of 19, alongside Gordon Strachan, Gary McAllister and David Batty. Gary Speed, who was found dead at his home today, playing for Everton Gary Speed, who was found dead at his home today, playing for Leeds United Gary Speed in his playing days turning out for Everton (left) and Leeds United Mr Speed, playing as captain of Newcastle United, celebrates scoring against Wimbledon at St James's Park Gary Speed appearing for Wales Mr Speed, playing as captain of Newcastle United, celebrates scoring against Wimbledon at St James's Park (left) and appearing for Wales He then moved to Everton in 1996 for a fee of £3.5million captaining the club before moving to Newcastle in 1998 for £5.5million. He then went to Bolton Wanderers in 2004 where in 2006 he became the first player in history to make 500 appearances in the Premiership. He moved to Sheffield United making his debut on New Years Day 2008 but a back injury that November forced him to retire as a player. During his international career he played in the Wales side of Ian Rush, Mark Hughes, Neville Southall and Dean Saunders. He captained Wales until hid retirement from international football in 2004. He has been capped for Wales 85 times making him the most capped outfield player. Appointed an MBE in the 2010 Birthday Honours. A year ago he took his first steps into management when he was put in charge of Sheffield United following the sacking of Kevin Blackwell. However, just three months later he was appointed manager of Wales and had overseen a renaissance in Welsh football. They thumped Norway 4-1 earlier this month and they had recently jumped to 45th place in the world rankings - just weeks after they had been in 117th place. wow @ all the armchair psychiatrists in here...please cite any credible source that says he had/suffered from depression? you can't cos there isn't one...your all just speculating on what you THINK his reasons were....perfectly sane people are just as likely to commit suicide as depressed/mentally ill people are....believe it or not (you probably wont but there you go...) - your having a laugh, sometimes i wonder, 28/11/2011 17:56 Click to rate Rating 2 Report abuse farewell and god bless. RIP Gary Speed - Mark Pendergast, Dubai, 28/11/2011 17:54 Click to rate Rating 2 Report abuse RIP Gary Extremely sad sometimes people think they are putting the people around them through hell when suffering from any mental illness so it may seem at the time better for the people around them to not be around also what seems madness to the majority makes sense to a minority Really sad he must have been rock bottom RIP - giraffe, Staffordshire, 28/11/2011 17:45 Click to rate Rating 17 Report abuse Not everyone who commits suicide has depression as many are assuming. Somethimes a one off incident triggers it. - Louise Birchall, Rochdale, 28/11/2011 17:41 Click to rate Rating 23 Report abuse Very sad news. This would be awful at any time, but to come so close to Christmas, which is a time when most families are united, makes this doubly hard. Sincere condolences to his family. - Katie, Berlin, Germany, 28/11/2011 17:39 Click to rate Rating 18 Report abuse I'm absolutely gutted. Gary was a footballing great. One of the best headers of a ball in the game and a true gentleman. My thoughts are with his family and friends at this terrible time. - jeff, mansfield, england, 28/11/2011 17:39 Click to rate Rating 12 Report abuse The tributes and the massive outpouring of grief just shows to me how highly this man was regarded, not only in the world of football, but as a person. God Bless You Gary Speed, you are at peace now. - liz, Hants, 28/11/2011 17:34 Click to rate Rating 24 Report abuse He obviously wasn't aware that so many people would be devastated by his death. I hope that this encourages anyone else who may be in the same dark place that he was. You may think that your dying will have no effect on anyone or anything but please see that many, many people will be forever asking themselves if they could have done or said anything that would have helped. Please just talk to one person before taking that step. If only he could have found the strength to either talk, or pick up the phone, to just one of these people whose hearts have now been broken. - beth, London, 28/11/2011 17:29 Click to rate Rating 31 Report abuse I had the pleasure of watching Gary Speed as a Leeds season ticket holder during his time at the club. One of my big heroes as a kid. He made up one quarter of one of the best midfields our club has ever seen. He will never be forgotten. RIP. - Michael, Leeds, 28/11/2011 17:29 Click to rate Rating 11 Report abuse It is so sad when things like these happen, but we just have to pray for his family and hopefully they will learn to live with it because something like this nobody can really get over - Karlia, Jamaica, 28/11/2011 17:28 Click to rate Rating 10

Gary Speed suicide: Police prepare to speak to his grieving widow and teenage sons Happily posing up with a fan: Last picture of Gary Speed just hours before he hanged himself

Using Philoosophy to combat suicide

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/tabloid/all-rounders/using-philosophy-combat-suicide-057#.TtN8CR9o57x.facebook Using philosophy to combat suicide June 8, 2011 By Cris Seetha K.C. Eldho may look like a typical lawyer engrossed in his work, sitting at his office in Ernakulam. But for years, he has been concerned about a disturbing subject — suicide. And Kerala’s alarming suicide rates have only worsened his worries. He pondered over one question — why? On one of those unhappy days when his work didn’t let him contribute more to this concern, Eldho came across a newspaper ad calling for volunteers to work with Mythri, the local wing of ‘Samaritans’, an international suicide prevention group. There he learnt the concept of ‘befriending’. He says: “I realised that most often, suicides are well-designed, planned and executed, not spur-of-the-moment actions. They may have their own justifiable reasons, and not have anyone they could speak to.” The Mythri volunteers devoted themselves to listening to the problems of depressed souls on the verge of suicide. The callers needn’t give any personal details, they can directly plunge into their worries. Eldho talked to scores of people, helping them unburden their fears and tensions. Even as he derived satisfaction in helping in a small way, Eldho continued to read and research on suicide. Soon after the September 11 attacks of 2001, his thoughts focussed on suicide terrorists. “They are all well educated people. So why are they doing it? They gain nothing out of it because they die. They are also financially sound, so it is not for money or for their families. I formed a hypothesis based on a theory by Gideon Rosen, professor of philosophy — that cases of action out of ignorance are not blameworthy, there is a possibility of blameless ignorance. I expanded the theory to include suicide terrorists. If you are not culpable for an act out of ignorance and your ignorance is not culpable, then your action is not culpable.” Eldho brings in various examples to explain his theory. “Sathi, at the time it was practiced, was considered right by everyone. It is only later we realised it is wrong. So then can we blame those who urged a widow to commit suicide, thinking it was the right thing to do?” Applying the theory to suicide terrorists, he says: “Indoctrination and brainwash are used on the victims for religious reasons (Jihad), cause of the land (LTTE) and so on.” He went on to apply to the Manchester University to put his hypothesis to test, and in a year, completed his Master of Research course (equivalent to M Phil). Coming back, he put his thoughts and theories in a book, Are Suicide Terrorists Culpable, which was released recently in Ernakulam. The book includes his thesis paper at the Manchester verbatim and also ‘the way forward’ — philosophy as a compulsory subject in the educational curriculum to prevent suicide terrorism.

Irresponsible suicide reporting and rate of incidence Dr Prabha Chandra - professor of psychiatry, NIMHANS, Bangalore

Irresponsible suicide reporting and rate of incidence Dr Prabha Chandra - professor of psychiatry, NIMHANS, Bangalore http://www.deccanherald.com/content/207174/irresponsible-suicide-reporting-rate-incidence.html Who can claim not to be touched by lives that are lost to suicide or not be perturbed by the increasing and prominent reports of suicide that one reads almost daily in newspapers? Suicide prevention involves cooperation and collaboration between mental health professionals, parents, school and college teachers, policy makers, the police and of course the media. While we examine the various social reasons why suicide is becoming an increasing problem in society, let us also examine what the media can do to help? The media has been known to have an important role because of a phenomenon called the `Werther effect’ or suicide by imitation. Werther was the tragic hero of a 1774 Goethe novel—Die Leiden des jungen Werthers—The Sorrows of Young Werther. The hero eventually ends his life because of a girl. Soon after the novel’s publication, many young men imitated this suicide following similar life situations and the book had to be banned! Subsequently suicides that happen due to social learning and imitation have been attributed to the Werther effect. Research from across the world has shown that suicides may happen due to social learning and imitation. The World Health Organisation has published clear guidelines on responsible reporting of suicides by the media. Across the country every year there are workshops and symposia held on the topic but somehow, most times, at least in India the media appears to prefer sensationalism to sensitivity and support. Research evidence indicates that inappropriate media reporting of suicide is linked to increased rates of actual suicide. What constitutes inappropriate reporting? Extensive coverage of suicides, prominent items placed on the first few pages of newspapers and articles in which the method of suicide is explicitly detailed should be avoided. The more detailed the description, the higher the chances that vulnerable people, particularly the youth and adolescents are likely to identify with the person. A detailed description of the method, contents of the suicide note and relating life problems to suicide should never be done in suicide reports. Complex circumstances Almost always a suicidal attempt happens due to complex circumstances. Attributing it to a common life event is not just extremely simplistic, it is also very risky. While the act may follow a particular incident, there are usually several causes which interact with each other leading to it including preexisting but unrecognised mental health problems. The risk lies in over simplifying the reasons and hence making vulnerable individuals to identify with the circumstances and enhancing chances of copycat suicides. People may also see suicide as a glamorous ending — with youth getting a lot of attention and sympathy. Reporting two or more suicides in a day, also known as high suicide density reporting should also be avoided. Repeated similarities among reported attempts, especially when suicide is related to a particular demographic- such as age, occupation or life circumstances also have the risk of triggering similar thoughts in people who are at risk. The media must understand that there are many vulnerable people out there who are reading their newspaper and viewing their TV channels. Many people are grappling with life’s’ problems and looking for solutions. It is these people who are known to be most affected by media reports. In particular, research has found that media coverage may encourage suicidal behavior in vulnerable children, and that the impact of suicide stories on subsequent completed suicides is greatest for adolescents. Reporting guidelines have been developed for suicides among young people in India by SNEHA an NGO in Chennai and the document even questions whether attempts by children and adolescents need to be reported at all. Interestingly most workshops on suicide that are organised for the media are attended by health reporters while the actual reporting is done by the crime reporters. Another ironical fact and another opportunity lost! Positive and responsible reporting can actually save lives. Research identifies that the way suicide is reported can reduce suicide rates. Reporting that describes suicide as being a tragic waste and an avoidable loss, and focuses on the devastating impact of the act on others, has been linked to reduced rates of suicide. Having a helpline number at the end of report encourages help seeking. An ecological study to identify associations between media item content and short-term changes in suicide rates was recently published in the British Journal of Psychiatry. An analysis of nearly 500 media reports of suicide over six months and its relationship to suicide rates in the community were studied. Explicit and elaborate content of the media item and repetitive reporting of the same attempt were related to increasing suicide rates. However, they also noted that coverage of positive coping in adverse circumstances and reports about `mastery in a crisis’ or finding solutions to problems, actually decreased suicide rates. Civil society, parents, teachers and professionals must constantly question whether a suicide report is really needed. Several newspapers across the world have developed their own code of ethics about reporting of sensitive topics such as suicide. Journalists and editors of Indian newspapers should spend some time on self reflection-do we really need to report this suicide, what impact will it have on the vulnerable people who are reading it? Am I following the guidelines for responsible reporting, or are there chances that my reporting may cause another precious life to be lost?

22 Reasons Never to Give Up

22 Reasons To Never Give Up Written by Diggy - 112 Comments Categories: self improvement never give up At some point in the various journeys we embark on in our lives, we get to a part where we feel like giving up. Sometimes we give up before we even start and other times we give up just before we are about to make that huge break-through that we have been putting so much effort in to achieve. I have created this list of 22 reasons why you should never give up and I hope that you will find it before you give up, so that I can inspire you to keep going! 1- As Long As You Are Alive Anything Is Possible The only valid excuse you have to give up is if you are dead. As long as you are alive (and healthy and free) you have the choice to keep trying until you finally succeed. 2- Be Realistic The chance of mastering something the first time you do it is almost non-existent. Everything takes time to learn and you will make mistakes. Learn from them. 3- Michael Jordan Arguably the best basketball player of all time. He attributes his success to all his failures. He just never gave up even when he knew he had missed over 300 shots and had missed the winning shot of the game many times. Every time he got knocked down he got back up again. 4- Lance Armstrong Lance was diagnosed with serious cancer that had spread throughout his entire body. He had cancer cells the size of golf balls in his lungs. Despite all odds he overcame the cancer and set out to win the Tour de France 6 Consecutive years in a row. 5- Muhammad Ali “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”. Muhammad Ali is one of the best boxers the world has ever known. He suffered only 5 losses while having 56 wins and was the first boxer to win the lineal heavyweight championship three times. This is a guy who literally knows how to get knocked down and get back up. 6- The Man Who Created The Marathon Very long ago an Athenian herald was sent to Sparta to get help when the Persians landed in Greece. It was said that he ran 240km in 2 days and after that he ran 40km to announce the victory of the Greeks only to collapse and die on the spot from exhaustion. If you ever feel like things are difficult, imagine what it would be like to run 240km in 2 days. (Don’t try that because you might die from it, but use it as an inspiration). 7- Chris Gardner – The Pursuit of Happiness Have you seen the movie “The Pursuit of Happiness”? It is based on the life story of Chris Gardener, a man who went for the lowest of the lows in an environment where most people would give up (no money, no job) to the highest of the highs (A millionaire with his own investment firm). If you ever think about giving up, watch this movie! 8- Kanye West I’m pretty sure you have heard of the rapper Kanye West. Read his story. He is a big inspiration for me and proves that you can go from having very little to being among the most famous and respected people in the world. 9- Nelson Mandela Campaigned for justice and freedom in his South Africa. Spent 20 years in jail for his opposition to apartheid. On release he healed the wounds of apartheid by his magnanimous attitude toward his former political enemies. 10- You Are Strong You are stronger than you think. One little setback is not enough to stop you from achieving your goals. Neither are 10 or 100 or 1000 setbacks. 11- Prove Yourself You don’t want to be known as someone that is weak and gives up. Go out there and prove yourself to the world and to yourself. You CAN and WILL achieve what you set out to do. The only time you fail is when you give up. 12- Has It Been Done Before? If someone else can do it then so can you. Even if it is only one other person in the world that has achieved what you have set out to achieve, that should be reason enough for you to never give up. 13- Believe In Your Dreams Don’t sell yourself short. In life there are going to be many people who will try to bring you down and tell you what you want to achieve is not possible. Don’t let anyone destroy your dreams. 14- Your Family and Friends. Let the people you love and who mean the world to you be your inspiration to persist and persevere. Maybe you need to try a different angle, study more or practice more but don’t give up! 15- Because I Tell You To. Not that I am any sort of guru or Godly figure, but if you want to give up then don’t. Just because I’m telling you not to. 16- There Are People Worse-Off Right now there are many people who are in a worse situation and environment than you are right now. Are you thinking about giving up running 5 miles a week? Think about the people who are unable to even walk and how much they would give to be able to run 5 miles every day. 17- Improve Our World When you achieve whatever you set out to achieve you can use your success to make a difference to the world or other peoples lives. 18- Get Rich or Die Trying Like Fiddy (50 cent) says, “Get rich or die trying”. 50 Cent is rich, he made it (although he did get shot 9 times). Face your fears and don’t take the easy way out by giving up. 19- Let The Haters Hate There will always be haters. There will always be plenty of naysayers and people who try to tear you down. Don’t pay attention to them and don’t take what they say to heart. Let the haters hate and you keep believing in yourself. 20- You Deserve To Be Happy Don’t ever let anybody tell you otherwise. You deserve to be happy and you deserve to have success. Keep that mindset and never give up until you reach your destination! 21- Inspire Others Be an inspiration to others by refusing to give up. Who knows what someone else can achieve because you never gave up and in turn inspired them not to give up. 22- You Are So Close Often when you feel like you want to give up and you are about to give up you are so close to making a huge break-thru. Seth Godin has written an awesome book about this called “The Dip” – a riveting read that teaches that at any given time you are always just a heartbeat away from success. P.S. NEVER GIVE UP!

Telegraph article with Aasra mentioned.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1111120/jsp/7days/story_14775308.jsp Wedlock to hemlock In India, one married man commits suicide every nine minutes — versus one married woman taking her life almost every 17 minutes — thanks to work pressures, an inability to tackle sorrow and laws that favour women, says Sonia Sarkar The words were ominous. “The growing differences with my wife have become unbearable. It is better to end my life,” Amit Bhaskar told a Mumbai-based suicide help- line, run by non-government organisation Aasra, before he was found dead in his bedroom. A glass with the dregs of sleeping pills was found by his side.(This is totally erroneous information. The case is fictitious. Aasra has never had a caller committing suicide) Bhaskar is one of 61,453 married men in India who committed suicide last year. In India, one married man commits suicide every nine minutes, as opposed to one married woman taking her life almost every 17 minutes. Recent data revealed by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) on suicides in 2010 show that almost 76 per cent of the total number of men who committed suicide were married. The number of suicides among married men was almost double that of married women, 31,754 of whom took their lives in 2010. “Out of 25 calls that we receive a day, at least seven are from distressed husbands, as opposed to three or four from troubled wives,” says Johnson Thomas, director of Aasra. “We come across at least five such cases every month,” adds Dr Jai Ranjan Ram, psychiatrist at Calcutta’s Apollo Gleneagles. Doctors also testify to the rise in the numbers of husbands committing suicide in recent years. “In a month, we come across about 40 suicide cases, out of which 50 per cent are invariably married men. The number was lower by 10 per cent five years ago,” says the head of psychiatry at Mumbai’s KEM Hospital, Dr Shubhangi Parkar, who’s conducted a joint study on suicides. Mumbai-based Shekhar Aggarwal, 31, was one such patient whom the counsellors could not save. Aggarwal was in love with an old sweetheart who was forced by her parents to marry another man. Aggarwal got married too, but was not happy. For a couple of weeks he talked about death with his counsellors, who tried to help him battle depression. But nothing helped — and Aggarwal one day hanged himself

Though the NCRB has not revealed the socio-economic class of the married men, experts point out that the trend is common to all classes. The reasons, however, are different. “For lower middle-class men, addiction to alcohol and debt are the common reasons for suicide. For the middle and upper middle-class, family dispute and loss of money in gambling or horse racing are often the cause,” says a senior official at CID (Crime), Maharashtra, which has the dubious distinction of recording the second highest number of suicides by married men — 8,138 in 2010 — among all states. Andhra Pradesh topped the list with 8,659 cases. Possibly, economic upheavals in recent years — with job losses in many sectors — have taken their toll on married men, who are still the traditional bread earners. The demands of the fast-paced information technology industry are exacting. With the economic slowdown and job losses, depression has been mounting. Not surprisingly, most suicides were committed by men who worked in the private sector. Last year in Bangalore, 366 private sector job holders took their lives versus 232 self-employed and 12 public sector employees. Around 210 men working in private companies in Chennai committed suicide as opposed to 99 self-employed ones and five public sector employees. But clearly there is no one reason why married men take their own lives. The factors differ from case to case, though there are some generalities. In Bangalore, for instance, work pressures often drive men towards suicide, the police say. “Most of these suicides are committed by IT professionals who have a stressful life. There is an imbalance between their personal and work lives, which leads to marital rifts and causes depression,” says Praveen Sood, additional director general (crime records bureau), Bangalore. Men, according to clinical psychologist Manju Mehta of Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), tend to harm themselves when they are not able to cope with stress. “Even emotionally strong men can harm themselves. This is one of their ways to escape pain and suffering,” she says. But why do men outnumber women on the suicide front so starkly? Part of it, psychologists say, is because they find it difficult to tackle sorrow and tend to bottle up depression. “Owing to the social stigma attached to weeping, men don’t cry. Expressing sadness, fear, disappointment or regret is seen as being less acceptable for men than women, who share their problems with others,” says Dr Sujatha Sharma, who runs a marital therapy clinic, Parivartan, in Delhi. “This cultural stereotype is very difficult to shake off. Since women are open to approach, suicides can be averted in their case, unlike in the case of men.” Though married women commit suicide as well, the figures are much lower than that of men. In the past five years, the number of married men taking their lives has gone up by 17 per cent versus 12.6 per cent for married women. “Men often suffer from a prolonged sense of not belonging, of not being integrated in the family. These feelings give rise to a sense of meaninglessness, apathy, melancholy and depression. Conflict in personal relationships, which is quite common these days, adds to the stress,” explains Mehta. Counsellors believe that extra-marital relationships also force men into a corner. “Often, cracks in marriages start showing up when either of the spouses has an extra-marital affair. Men suffer more since their coping strategies are weaker than those of women,” adds Mehta. For K. Srinivas, a 40-year-old IT professional from Chennai, it was his wife’s infidelity that prompted him to take his life. He was married for 10 years, and when he suspected that his wife had a lover he confronted her. But when her affair continued, the father of two daughters took an overdose of sleeping pills. “He felt helpless and debilitated,” says a counsellor. Male suicide is often called “egoistic” suicide by experts. “On many occasions, men contemplating suicide have confessed that their ego doesn’t let them compromise and take the first step needed to fix a problem in a relationship. In such a situation, they also feel a strong sense of failure,” says Dr Parkar. For most Indians, the family is a pivotal force of strength and support. But when things go wrong, it may also be their greatest torment, the experts point out. Failure to meet the high expectations of their partners often goads men into taking extreme steps. “Men become very sensitive about relationships and they feel ashamed of not meeting their partner’s expectations, resulting in a lowering of self-esteem,” says Dr M. Gowri Devi of the Niloufer Hospital in Hyderabad. The changing man-woman equation has also made a dent on the male ego. Andhra Pradesh is a case in point. “With 33 per cent reservation for girls in all colleges, including professional courses, there are more educated women than men in the state. Education is empowering women more and making them independent and perhaps less adjusting. Dissatisfied and frustrated with family life, men see suicide as an option to get over their emotional loss,” says Dr Devi. Associations that espouse the cause of husbands blame pro-women laws for the trend. “For example, there is misuse of section 498A of the Indian Penal Code, under which an uninvestigated complaint by a wife against her husband and his family can land him and the family in jail. Or take the Domestic Violence Act, under which a husband can lose his hard-earned property thanks to a simple complaint of domestic violence, even without a fair trial,” says Niladri Das of male rights group Save Family Foundation. “We want the government to set up a men’s welfare ministry and also a commission for men to look after such cases. It is unfortunate that the pain and suffering of married men are never taken into account when the government designs its welfare policies,” he says. Delhi-based lawyer Meenakshi Lekhi also believes the law can be unfair to men. “In the urban scenario, women can be equally abusive and cruel as men. One cannot ignore the fact that offensive wives often push their husbands into such a corner that they are forced to end their lives,” feels Lekhi. Doctors say that suicides can be avoided if the warning signals are read at an appropriate time. “Nobody commits suicide at the very thought of it. There is a gradual escalation of the feeling that death is a better option. It is for friends and close group associates to keep a tab on the mood swings of the person and also help him vent his frustration and anxiety,”says Dr Ram. Activists have also started awareness campaigns that could help men seek assistance rather than suffer in silence. “Men should speak out,” says Das.

Mentally ill woman in jail for 21 years

Mentally ill woman in jail for 21 years TNN | Nov 18, 2011, 07.35AM IST CHENNAI: In April this year, Pakka alias Vijaya completed 21 years as an inmate of the special prison for women at Vellore. Sentenced to life term for murder, she is one among countless such convicts in Indian jails. But what makes her case different is that she is speech impaired and the long years in prison have left her mentally ill. Now, Vijaya's plight has been brought to the notice of the Madras high court through a habeas corpus petition filed by advocate P Pugalenthi. Saying that Vijaya, now 53, neither gets medical attention nor counselling in jail, Pugalenthi has sought her premature release. Taking up the petition, a division bench comprising Justice C Nagappan and Justice T Sudanthiram on Thursday issued notice to the state government and adjourned the matter for two weeks. Pugalenthi, who is director of Prisoners Rights Forum, said he came to know about the plight of Vijaya from Nalini Sriharan, who is serving life imprisonment in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. According to the petition, Vijaya and her husband Subramani (now 55) were convicted in a murder for gain case and sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life. They were found guilty by a sessions court in Coimbatore of offences such as murder, robbery and dacoity. Vijaya has been in jail since April 10, 1990, and not even relatives visit her, he said. She was suffering without appropriate medical treatment or counseling, the petition said, adding that even her husband lodged in men's prison across the road was highly depressed. Unable to talk, she communicates with others by means of signs, it said. Pugalenthi said he made a representation to the authorities in September, requesting them to consider Vijaya for premature release in accordance with law. In October, the authorities replied that her case would be considered for premature release as per the provisions of a government letter issued in November 1994. As per the rule, Vijaya became eligible for premature release the moment she completed 20 years of imprisonment, Pugalenthi said. "Vijaya completed 20 years of imprisonment on April 10, 2010. It is more than 19 months since she became eligible to be considered for premature release." According to Pugalenthi, Vijaya was a Muslim who married Subramani after a brief love affair. Both were street performers in Coimbatore. On April 4, 1990 the couple murdered a youth from a southern district after he tried to misbehave with Vijaya. The police arrested them and registered a murder case. Though mute, Vijaya mingled with all inmates quite well, Pugalenthi said.

Peter Roebuck, cricket commentator commits suicide

Sex assault twist in Roebuck suicide 14 November 2011 tweet3 Email Print RELATED CONTENT Wed 09 Nov South Africa's FlagSouth Africa vs. Australia's FlagAustralia 1st Test - Cape Town Result: South Africa won by 8 wickets Australian team offers condolences to Roebuck's family India will remember Roebuck for his indictment of Australian team Roebuck jumped to his death, sexual assault angle emerges Roebuck's last write-up: 'Mind you, a lot can happen in a week. It just did' Fairfax Media describes iconic writer Roebuck's death as a 'Great shock' Tributes flow for maestro of cricket writing, Peter Roebuck Sydney, November 14, 2011 (AFP) - Renowned cricket writer Peter Roebuck plunged to his death from a hotel window in South Africa after being questioned by police about an alleged sexual assault, his employer said on Monday. The English-born Roebuck, 55 and a former first-class cricketer, was covering the ongoing Test series between South Africa and Australia when he died on Saturday night. South African police confirmed he committed suicide and the Australian newspaper group he worked for, Fairfax Media, said he fell to his death from the Southern Sun Hotel in Cape Town. Roebuck had written on cricket for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age in Melbourne since 1984, and the newspapers said his death followed questioning by police from the sexual crimes unit about an alleged sexual assault. They provided no further details although The Australian newspaper said the allegations involved an incident last week. Fairfax said Roebuck was agitated and asked a fellow cricket journalist for help. "Can you come down to my room quickly? I've got a problem," he said and asked for help to find a lawyer. Minutes later Roebuck, regarded by many as the finest cricket writer of his generation, fell to his death from a window. The Australian said he landed on an awning above the hotel foyer. Fairfax said it was believed a uniformed police officer was in the room at the time. South African police said an inquest had been opened but would not comment further. Roebuck studied law at Cambridge and played 335 first-class matches before becoming an Australian citizen and making a career writing about the sport, quickly establishing an avid following with his forthright, intelligent prose. He also regularly commentated for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Never far from controversy, he received a suspended prison sentence in England in 2001 for common assault after caning three South African teenage cricketers who had stayed with him in 1999. Former Australia captain Steve Waugh, who played alongside Roebuck at Somerset, led tributes to him. "He was never afraid to tackle the big issues in world cricket and would often be a lone voice if he believed strongly in the cause," Waugh told Fairfax media. "As a captain I would always be keen to read Peter's take on the previous day's play." Mark Taylor, whom Waugh succeeded as captain of Australia in 1999, said Roebuck's opinion was greatly respected as it was based on so much experience. "Not every player, me included, agreed with what he said all the time. We did know it wasn't based on a whim, it was based on a lot of experience," he said. Another former Australian captain, Greg Chappell, highlighted Roebuck's philanthropic work with the charity The LBW Trust - Learning for a Better World. "Something like 250 kids in cricket-playing countries around the world, underprivileged kids, are being educated through the LBW Trust, and that was from his vision," Chappell told the Herald. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Roebuck jumped to his death, sexual assault angle emerges 13 November 2011 tweet Email Print RELATED CONTENT Wed 09 Nov South Africa's FlagSouth Africa vs. Australia's FlagAustralia 1st Test - Cape Town Result: South Africa won by 8 wickets Peter Roebuck: 'Cricket South Africa has lost a good friend' Australian team offers condolences to Roebuck's family Sex assault twist in Roebuck suicide India will remember Roebuck for his indictment of Australian team Roebuck's last write-up: 'Mind you, a lot can happen in a week. It just did' Fairfax Media describes iconic writer Roebuck's death as a 'Great shock' Tributes flow for maestro of cricket writing, Peter Roebuck (AFP with Y! Cricket Inputs) - Renowned cricket writer Peter Roebuck was found dead at his hotel in South Africa, where he was covering Australia's Test series with the Proteas, his employers said Sunday. The South African police released a statement earlier in the day saying that Roebuck took his own life. He had jumped from the sixth floor of his hotel. Later in the day, it was learnt that there was a sexual assault angle to the case, and that he had been questioned by the police earlier in the day. The Daily Telegraph reports that Roebuck jumped from a window while the police were still in his room. "He landed on the awning outside the entrance to the hotel. Police removed personal items from his room and took his body to the mortuary yesterday morning," the newspaper reported. The circumstances of his death were not immediately clear, but the Sydney Morning Herald said he had reportedly been "spoken to by police earlier in the day" and had been seen in an "agitated state" according to the ABC. "This office can confirm that an incident occurred last night at about 21:15 at a hotel in Claremont where a 55-year-old British national who worked as an Australian commentator committed suicide," the statement said. "An inquest docket has been opened for investigation." British-born Roebuck, 55, studied law at Cambridge and played 335 first-class matches before making a career writing about the sport, quickly establishing an avid following with his forthright, intelligent prose. He regularly commentated for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and wrote for the nation's Fairfax newspapers. "It is with great shock that we have learnt today that Peter Roebuck has died in Newlands, South Africa," Fairfax chief Greg Hywood said in a statement. "Peter was not only an extremely gifted cricket writer for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, he was also one of Australia's most popular cricket commentators for the ABC," added Hywood. "In recent years he built a reputation as one of the best columnists on the sport." Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland expressed shock at the death of Roebuck, a "familiar face" to the Australian cricket team, who had been with the players "only hours before his sudden death". "He spoke his mind frankly and while one didn't necessarily always have to agree, you always respected what he had to say," he added. Craig Norenbergs, head of the ABC's Grandstand sports programme, said it was "incredibly sad news". "He was an integral part of the Grandstand commentary team, apart from being a magnificent print journalist," Norenbergs said. "For us he could describe a game of cricket in such a way that even if you didn't like the game, you liked the way that he went about his business." Roebuck, a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1988, captained English county side Somerset in the 1980s and turned out regularly for Devon after retiring from top-level cricket in 1991. He played 335 First Class matches, scoring 17,558 runs and takin 72 wickets. He penned several books on the sport and was a sometimes polarising figure known for his strong views and admired as one of cricket's most articulate and incisive minds. Roebuck's father said his son was seen as "odd" in orthodox spheres, "whereas he is merely obscure and oblique." "He is an unconventional loner with an independent outlook on life, an irreverent sense of humour and sometimes a withering tongue," the elder Roebuck said in his son's 2005 autobiography "Sometimes I Forgot to Laugh". In his diary of a season "It Never Rains", Roebuck reflected on how strange it was "that cricket attracts so many insecure men." Roebuck filed a column published just hours before news of his death broke, urging Australia to hold their nerve following the "dumbfounding" events in the first Test against South Africa in which the visitors were shot out for just 47 in their second innings. "The team for the first Test against New Zealand has become harder to predict," Roebuck wrote, referring to the upcoming series. "Mind you, a lot can happen in a week. It just did." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Roebuck's last write-up: 'Mind you, a lot can happen in a week. It just did' 13 November 2011 tweet Email Print Cape Town, Nov.13 (ANI): Having acquired an iconic and awesome reputation for his writings on the sport of cricket, it is an irony of sorts and quite bizarre that in his last article before he died Saturday in a hotel room in Cape Town, South Africa, he wrote: "Mind you, a lot can happen in a week. It just did." The article focused primarily on the Australian team's disastrous outing at Newlands, Cape Town against South Africa, and what needed to be done. "Australian cricket is lucky that it has a few days of respite between the dumbfounding events at Newlands and its next engagement. The break gives coaches, selectors and captain the breathing space needed to collect their thoughts," said Roebuck. "The second Test gives the incumbents an opportunity to redeem themselves and the selectors a chance to study the trends," he added. He also said that there was no point in ditching players in response to public demand, as who knows, the replacements might not be any better, or ready. He predicted that Shaun Marsh would not be playing the Johannesburg Test because of a recurrence of his degenerative back problem, and said Usman Khawaja deserved the opportunity to take his place in the squad. He also describes left-arm fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, as the most frustrating cricketer in the country, someone who bowled without pace or swing at Newlands. "Since his inspired bursts in the Ashes Test in Perth he had not taken enough wickets to justify his retention. Nor has he scored enough runs since his blistering 123 in Cape Town 32 months ago to be deemed a handy lower-order batsman. Hopes have been dashed he might lead the attack until the next generation is ready," Roebuck said, a day before his tragic demise. He reveals that the collapse in Cape Town was no fluke. "These Australians have been weak against swing because they chase the ball rather than play it under their chin. Some get into poor positions. Apart from technical flaws, the collapses raised even more fundamental issues. How long can Shane Watson continue as a front-line bowler and opening batsman? History provides few instances of a cricketer able to sustain both workloads. The time is ripe to put him in the middle order," said Roebuck. He mentions the technical flaws of opener Phillip Hughes (bat still slides sideways and his shoulders are square); Ponting (missing straight balls because he is hurried and out of position); Brad Haddin (reckless and has a single match to turn around his fortunes) and Johnson (the most likely player to be dropped). (ANI) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fairfax Media describes iconic writer Roebuck's death as a 'Great shock' 13 November 2011 tweet Email Print Sydney, Nov.13 (ANI): Fairfax Media chief executive Greg Hywood on Sunday issued a statement that said the organization was in a state of "great shock" on hearing of the death of iconic cricket journalist Peter Roebuck in South Africa. The statement reads as follows: "It is with great shock that we have learnt today that Peter Roebuck has died in Newlands, South Africa. "Peter was not only an extremely gifted cricket writer for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, he was also one of Australia's most popular cricket commentators for the ABC. In his youth he played for the English county Somerset, then made his home in Australia. In recent years he built a reputation as one of the best columnists on the sport. "We extend our commiserations to his family and all who will mourn his passing." Publisher and editor-in-chief of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Sun-Herald, Peter Fray, said: "We are saddened and shocked at this news. Peter was one of the finest cricket writers of his generation. His reporting and commentary were always fair, balanced, and insightful. "He will be missed by his colleagues at Fairfax and by his many fans in Australia and around the world." No further comment will be made at this stage. (ANI) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tributes flow for maestro of cricket writing, Peter Roebuck 13 November 2011 tweet Email Print Sydney, Nov.13 (ANI): Tributes continue to pour in for the maestro of cricket writing Peter Roebuck, who died in mysterious circumstances on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday at the age of 55. Former Test spinner and ABC cricket commentator Kerry O'Keeffe said: ''It is one of the saddest days in my life''. He described Roebuck as his radio colleague of 11 years. Roebuck, who wrote for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, was a man who not only loved the game, but analysed it better than anyone else, O'Keeffe told the ABC's Grandstand programme today. ''Nobody cut to the chase more succinctly and nobody saw how the game was and where it was heading better than Peter Roebuck,'' he said. "It's the most devastating news for so many out there. That voice. My chuckle is neither here nor there but Peter Roebuck's incisiveness and the way he delivered was the blueprint for our cricket commentary,'' said O'Keeffe who played played against Roebuck, a former captain for English county Somerset, during the 1977 Ashes tour. ''I think he played for a combined universities team. He had Coca-Cola bottle glasses and he read thick books, so we didn't have a lot in common,'' the Sydney Morning Herald quoted O'Keeffe, as saying. ''He rang me up virtually every week for the last 10 years or so to talk cricket and I used to put the phone down and have a deeper view of it after the conversation," he added. O'Keeffe recalled a story in the commentary box when he, Roebuck and broadcaster Jim Maxwell were filling in time during a rain break leading to the hourly bulletin. ''We were talking about IQs and I'd say mine is about in the 60s, I'd think Robey would be about 130, 140, without question,'' O'Keeffe said. ''And he'd say, 'I'm not concerned with triviality about IQs, Kerry, let's talk about the cricket'. ''And Jim was just wrapping up to take it to the news, Peter would say just before we go to the news, 'Kerry regarding the IQ, a touch conservative'.'' O'Keeffe said he loved Roebuck's ''vagueness''. One such example was his reference to pop star Lady Gaga as Lady Baba. O'Keeffe said he loved reading Roebuck's columns in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. ''He'd say, did you see the little dig I had in paragraph 42? And it was so subtle I didn't pick it up,'' O'Keeffe said. ''The audience will miss him but I think his fellow broadcasters will miss him more.''ews of Roebuck's death echoed across web. "My God. Just heard about Peter Roebuck. Loved working with him. Incisive. Erudite. Funny, " wrote Jonathan Agnew, BBC cricket commentator and former England bowler. "Shocking and sad news about Peter Roebuck. One of the two or three best writers on cricket in the world," said John Stern, former editor of The Wisden Cricketer. Lawrence Booth, editor of the Wisden Almanack said: ''Cricket has lost one hell of an intellect and a bloke who cared deeply about the game. I always read Peter Roebuck with complete admiration.'' Indian cricket journalist Harsha Bhogle tweeted: "peter roebuck was meant to write about cricket in the manner sachin tendulkar was born to play it". "Peter was not only an extremely gifted cricket writer for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, he was also one of Australia's most popular cricket commentators for the ABC," he Fairfax CEO Greg Hywood in a message to staff. "In recent years he built a reputation as one of the best columnists on the sport." (ANI)

Communication from Mela south Asian Coordinator for Befrienders Worldwide

We are working towards making BW a Networking organization. In short, ‘connecting together’- Building a network connecting with all centres around the globe. Engagement- to make sure that BW Networking members feel included/connecting and supporting each other. More credibility- Making sure we work with Recognized and Respected Organizations world wide. Training- BW will offer excellent training by volunteers who excel in this field in our regions. Consistency – We will work towards consistency, offering training materiel of the highest standard, distributing relevant information that helps to improve skills and knowledge among all Networking centres. We have thought of Task Forces that are of the highest priority at present. 1. Website Task Force. 2.Twinning Task Force. 3. Fundraising Task force. 4. Communication Task Force. Clearly having the BW Website up and running would take first place in the list of ‘highest priorities’. Twinning Task Force- We will aspire to be far more effective- Bringing together centres in all Regions. Having closer ties/ sharing knowledge/ problem. Issues etc.thus making centres feel they are a part of the BW family. Fundraising- We would be looking for volunteers in our Regions who have the expertise of coming up with innovative ideas of approaching would be donors. Members of this Task Force do not necessarily have to bring in donors. However, if they do it would be a huge bonus. We still need volunteers to join the Fundraising TF. If you think you would like to share your expertise on how to get donations please contact me. Communication Task Force- to develop a communications strategy that ensures every volunteer in a centre receives information from the network, whether it is from the regional coordinators, trustees, secretary general or other centres. Forming other Task Forces is in the pipeline. A BW Board of Trustees will be set up – a selection panel and a selection of criteria for Board members has been established. Once the new Board of Trustees has been identified the BWSG will no longer exist and the members will revert back to their previous designation as ‘Regional Coordinators’. “If you always do what you always did, You will always get what you always got, If you want something different then think differently! That’s exactly what BW is doing- Having a whole new concept of launching into an exciting and invigorating future. With my warmest wishes, Mela. (Regional Coordinator for South Asia.) Response from Johnson ,Director Aasra Mela, Looks like you all had a very fruitful meeting and the formal agenda for the future looks impressive and I am sure will work out best for all the centers and volunteers I am all for turning BW into a networking organisation and think it's also important to network with centers doing similar work even if they may not be befriending centers. Inclusion is important and helping centers to work around their individual problems while connecting and supporting each other makes a lot of sense. Recognition and credibility are vital for growth and it's great that BW will be focusing on working with recognised and respected organisations worldwide. Forming a training core-group in every region would help in spreading the good work to all corners of the globe. Consistency in Training and training material updates would help all centers within the network to keep up with global standards. Task force for Website, twinning, fundraising and commuication are very essential and I am sure all centers around the globe will benefit from it. Thanks for the detailed email, Looking forward to hearing more on this front. Johnson Thomas Aasra Navi Mumbai www.aasra.info aasrasuicideprevention.blogspot.com www.facebook.com/aasrasuicideprevention Mob: 9820466726

Worrying rise of suicides in the country

India has been seeing a worrying rise in suicides. Statistics show every 10 minutes, someone in the country is taking their own life. "I always remember this line from my favourite Rocky series - it's not about how hard you get hit, it's about how hard you get hit but keep moving," 18-year old Rashmi said. Rashmi comes across as any other 18-year old. It is hard to believe that she attempted suicide twice in the past year. "I had the knife at my throat and I sat down thinking to do it or not," Rashmi said. The reasons that led her to such an extreme step seem fairly common. Explaining the reasons, Rashmi said, "I changed school, it was difficult to settle in. Then I had issues with my parents, they drove me up too hard to study and then just two years ago, I had broken a relation with a long time friend." What seems like a common problem can act as a trigger, given underlying depression. Disturbingly, young suicides and attempts to suicide are on the rise. The National Crime Records Bureau reports 20 students killed themselves everyday in 2010. "The reasons for the rise in suicides may be too much competition, stress and kids don't have the right support systems," doctors say. Suicides rates were the highest in Maharashtra, followed by West Bengal, Delhi and then Mumbai. Rashmi has been in counseling for the past nine months. "That moment, just think about what you are doing to the others, the baggage that you are going to leave behind and the guilt and the grief," Rashmi said. If you notice behavioural changes, signs of depression, disturbed sleep, or someone talking about taking their lives, please ensure they get help. Contact the following: Aasra: 022-27546669(24x7) Aasra www.aasra.info aasrasuicideprevention.blogspot.com www.facebook.com/aasrasuicideprevention email: aasrahelpline@yahoo.com

state of maharashtra had 2nd most eve-teasing FIRS in 2010, kirsten Dunst says depression caused by career dichotomy

State had 2nd-most eve-teasing FIRs in 10 Many Cases Not Recorded As Police Arent Sensitive To Issue,Say Activists Maharashtras conviction rate for sexual harassment cases decided in 2010 pales in comparison to the rates achieved in states like UP (76%),Punjab (52%) or Kerala (30%).According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB),Maharashtra had a poor 5% rate in 2010. Cases of sexual harassment,which include eve-teasing on the streets,are filed under Section 509 of the Indian Penal Code,where the accused is booked for uttering a word or committing a gesture or act that insults the modesty of a woman. Interestingly,Maharashtra saw the second-highest number of FIRs filed for sexual harassment in 2010.Andhra Pradesh had 4,562 FIRs,while Mahrashtra had 1,180.In Mumbai alone,138 FIRs were filed.However activists said this was no indication of actual instances,as most cases are not reported.Incidentally,APs conviction rate in 2010 was way ahead of Maharashtras at 35%. The fact that 1,180 women in Maharashtra suffered eve teasing is itself a very high number.Many cases go unreported and the real numbers are much higher, said Sonya Gill of the All India Democratic Womens Association.The incidence of such crimes is rising.The state must set up a mechanism to tackle the issue in a better manner. Societal and systemic reasons are to blame for the poor reporting and conviction rates.In the Amboli case,it took the friends of the victims over a fortnight to decide to mention eve teasing in their witness statements. Mihir Desai,of the voluntary organisation India Centre for Human Rights and Law,is one of the experts sceptical about other states outdoing Maharashtra by such a huge margin.But he said,Recording and conviction rates of crimes such as eve teasing depends on how sensitive the police are to such incidents.What is perceived as eve teasing by a woman may not be recorded if the cop doesnt perceive it as such. Advocate Flavia Agnes,who works with victims of violence,said fighting sexual harassment is daunting and victims often give up midway.She recalled how two women molested outside a Juhu five-star hotel on New Years eve in 2007 preferred to drop the charges.Also,the public doesnt come forward to be witnesses, said Agnes. The state is waking up to the reality of few convictions.A committee was set up under the joint secretary,home department,in May to look into the trend.There were several factors in other states which aided better conviction rates.For instance,there was better forensic facilities and more liaisons between public prosecutors and the police, said J Supekar of the state CID (crime),who was part of the panel.Judicial pendency in Maharashtra too is higher. Inputs by S Ahmed Ali -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Denied money for booze, man sets wife ablaze Kannagi Desai, TNN | Nov 10, 2011, 02.53AM IST Article Comments (1) Read more:Sadhana|man burns wife|Malwani police|Bhagwati Hospital 1 MUMBAI: The Malwani police are on the lookout for a 31-year-old man who allegedly set his pregnant wife on fire on Tuesday at their MHB colony home. The incident took place after the victim, Sadhana Sonavane, refused to give her husband, Sunil, money to buy alcohol. Sadhana suffered 90% burns and is undergoing treatement at Bhagwati Hospital. tnn in Borivli. Her husband, Sunil, has been booked on charges of 'attempt to murder.' No arrests have been made yet. Sunil and Sadhana (28) got married three years ago. They stayed at MHB Colony in Malwani and did not have any kids. "Sunil was unemployed and an alcoholic. Sadhana worked as a maid at two places and ran the house single-handedly. The couple fought regularly about Sunil's drinking habit and his constant demands for money," said senior inspector Abdul Rauf Shaikh. "On Tuesday, around 8 pm, Sunil got drunk and once again started pestering Sadhana for money. When she refused, he got angry with her. He then emptied a can of kerosene on his wife and struck a match. While she burned, he fled from the house." Neighbours rushed Sadhana to the Bhagwati Hospital at Borivli. "We later learnt that Sadhana was pregnant, but we aren't aware when she was to deliver," a police official said. "She isn't in a condition to speak." Police officials rushed to the couple's home on being informed about the incident. A case has been registered under section 307 of the IPC against Sunil, who is on the run. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Neighbours set man ablaze in front of sister Nitasha Natu, TNN Nov 9, 2011, 03.03AM IST MUMBAI: A man died of severe burns after three neighbours set him ablaze at a chawl at Seven Bungalows in Andheri (West) on Monday evening. The police said Rehmat Hasan Shah (36) was locked in a dispute with the three over the redevelopment of the chawl. Hours before his killing, he had a spat with them over a petty issue. The police said a complaint about the incident was filed by Shah's sister Noorbanu Shaikh (35), who resides in the same chawl. No arrests have been made yet. "It was around 7.30 pm. I was at the door when I suddenly saw this person egged on by two men pour kerosene on my brother outside his chawl room. I rushed out screaming, but the neighbours had locked themselves inside their rooms. I kept knocking on their doors, to no avail. By then my brother was burning." This is what Rehmat Hasan Shah's sister Noorbanu Shaikh told a policeman about his murder on Monday. Shah (36), who died of severe burns in hospital, was a resident of Flower Chawl in Sunderwadi, Seven Bungalows, Andheri (West). The police said that Shaikh in her complaint said Shah did not get along with the three accused--Savio Fernandes, his brother Sayo Fernandes and Sanjay Parab--as they wanted him to sell his chawl room in view of a redevelopment project. The accused, residents of the same chawl, had even approached Shah's mother to persuade him to sell the room, as it belonged to her. But she stood behind her son. Shah, who worked as a chauffeur, lived in the room with his mother, wife and a seven-year-old son from a previous marriage; his first wife went back to her hometown after the couple separated, taking along with her their younger son, now aged four. Shaikh (35) resides in the same chawl, but in a separate room. According to a relative of Shah, he had demanded two flats in the redeveloped building, if his and his sister's rooms were to be demolished. But he was being offered one flat, and so was not keen on the project. On Monday evening, Shah went to Shaikh's room to wish her for Bakri Eid. He had planned to visit other relatives afterwards. On his way out, he saw the three accused hanging around. The men poked fun at Shah for his squint, which angered him. Shaikh immediately intervened and prevented Shah from getting into a fight with the three. Sometime later, around 7.30 pm, finding Shah alone, they set him ablaze. "He sustained 80% burns," Shaikh told the police in her complaint. When she was looking for people to save him, "someone poured water on him and covered him with a blanket. But he succumbed to his injuries, at Cooper Hospital". Shah's nephew told TOI that his assailants had in the past beaten up his relatives. Sunderwadi residents said the three were notorious in the locality. "They are goons. They slap and abuse kids if they want some message to be to conveyed to their parents," said a resident. "They have been creating trouble for those who haven't consented to the redevelopment scheme." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kirsten Dunst: Depression caused by career 'dichotomy' By: Bang Showbiz Posted: 11/8/2011 10:30 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies) 0 1 Share1 Print E–mail Report Error Kirsten Dunst Enlarge Image Kirsten Dunst Kirsten Dunst claims her depression was caused by the "weird dichotomy" of being an actress. The 'Melancholia' star checked into the Cirque Lodge Treatment Center, in Utah, to be treated for the mental health condition in February 2008 and she claims the pressures of her career caused her problems. Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres asked her: "There is no way to bring up without saying what it . You suffered from depression." To which Kirsten answered: "It's not something I feel like totally comfortable talking about but yeah, it's a very personal thing . I dealt with it. Yeah. That and it's also interesting as an actress you're supposed to be sensitive and vulnerable and have this side to you. But then your supposed to be super sociable and 'on' and like nice to everybody. That's a weird dichotomy. It's a lot to ask of a person. It's not a normal thing." The 29-year-old actress believes it was the right thing for her to do to have treatment and take a break from Hollywood, because she was able to return to her career reinvigorated. Kirsten - whose breakthrough role came when she was just 10 in 'Interview with the Vampire' - added: "I definitely took a little bit of a break. And also, when you're in your 20s you need figure things out and take a step back. I had been acting so long, all my life. I think I just needed a little bit of some perspective. It was good for me and it re-inspired what I do, too." However, Kirsten avoids the Hollywood party circuit and only attends the premieres of her own movies. She said: "I avoid the red carpet as much as possible. You have to do it to promote your movies obviously but you won't see me at an event just for the sake of it." ersonal Thing Kirsten Dunst: Depression Is a Very Personal Thing Kirsten Dunst makes an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in an episode airing today! Here’s what the 29-year-old Melancholia actress had to share with Ellen: On taking a break from Hollywood: “I definitely took a little bit of a break. And also, when you’re in your twenties you need figure things out and take a step back. I had been acting so long, all my life. I think I just needed a little bit of some perspective. It was good for me and it re-inspired what I do.” On dealing with depression: “It’s not something I feel like totally comfortable talking about but yeah, it’s a very personal thing. It’s also interesting as an actress you’re supposed to be sensitive and vulnerable and have this side to you. But then your supposed to be super sociable and ‘on’ and like nice to everybody. That’s a weird dichotomy. It’s a lot to ask of a person. It’s not a normal thing.” On how she feels about the red carpet: “I avoid the red carpet as much as possible. You have to do it to promote your movies obviously but you won’t see me at an event just for the sake of it.” FYI: Kirsten is wearing a Dolce&Gabbana dress, Nicholas Kirkwood shoes, and Tom Binns earrings. Bigger picture inside…

cop commits suicide, SRA death may be suicide,counselling not our cup of tes:cops,

HE WAS HARASSED BY HIS SENIORS: SON Cop commits suicide at Mahim police quarters V Narayan TNN Mumbai: An assistant subinspector committed suicide by jumping off from the terrace of the five-storey building in which he resided at the Mahim police quarters on Tuesday morning. According to the police,53-year-old ASI Vijay Murudkars family alleged that he took the extreme step as was harassed by his seniors.DCP (Zone V) Aswati Dorje said,He has not left behind any suicide note.The case is being investigated. Murudkar was transferred to the Bandra police station six months ago and had applied for a voluntary retirement.My father had sought a VRS as he wanted to relax and spend more time with his grandchildren and family members.Of late,he was under a lot of stress as a senior officer was harassing him at workplace, Murudkars son Rakesh told TOI on Tuesday. Shocked neighbours said they had seen Murudkar playing with his grandson,Mayank,outside their room on the first floor around 8.15 am before some women drying clothes in the common balcony raised an alarm of having seen someone fall on the ground from the terrace. I was searching for my father in the morning and was under the impression that he was in my elder brother Rajeshs house,which is on the second floor of the building, Rakesh said.My father would regularly go to visit Rajesh who is a constable at the Kherwadi police station and stays with his wife and two children.I was about to climb the stairs to look for him when I heard a few women scream, he added. Listening to the screams,several cops residing in the building rushed downstairs and rushed Murudkar to the nearby S L Raheja Hospital,where h e died around 9.15am. For the last two weeks,my father was under severe depression.On Monday night,I even inquired as to why he was glum.When I asked him if he had any health issues,he denied it.We never expected him to take such an extreme step, Rakesh said. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SRA death may be suicide, say cops Published: Wednesday, Nov 9, 2011, 8:00 IST By Shahkar Abidi | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA Though three Shiv Sena activists have been booked for allegedly burning to death a 36-year-old man over a dispute in the Slum Rehabilitation Scheme, preliminary police investigations hint it to be a case of suicide. Police sources said the entire turn-around of facts was reportedly done at the behest of a local Congress leader, who wanted to fix his opponents-the accused in the case dock. The former councillor will soon be called for questioning, the sources said. According to a complaint lodged with the Versova police by deceased Rehmat Shah’s family, the accused, who run a carom club, allegedly got into a fight with the victim. They had a long standing dispute over the SRA issue and they had lodged complaints against each other at the police station. Shah’s family claimed that he was assaulted with sticks and then set on fire in front of the slum. However, no one came in front to help him or doused off the fire. Shah was rushed to the Cooper hospital, where he was declared brought dead. “Rehmat called me on my cell phone for help, but then it got cut. The phone was found in the morning in a burnt state,” Shah’s brother Ahmed Hassan said. However, witnesses told the police that they saw Shah in flames running out of his house, while one of his sisters was running behind him. The locals told the police that there was a property dispute between between Rehmat and his sister Rehana. The duo would often fight openly and on few occasions, Shah had threatened to kill himself. The cops now suspect that Shah could have possibly set himself on fire during a similar fight. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Counselling not our cup of tea:cops Mumbai police have decided that sorting marital problems is not their cup of tea. It's social service branch 's marriage counselling dept run by 15 hardened cops have had just 18 successes.So the cops are being trained by professional counsellors under a new project title Su Samvaad-Positive communication. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dad's depression may rub off on kids

Dad's depression may rub off on kids Health By Amanda MacMillan, Health.com November 7, 2011 -- Updated 0827 GMT (1627 HKT) A child's odds of developing emotional problems increase by as much as 70% if the father shows signs of depression. A child's odds of developing emotional problems increase by as much as 70% if the father shows signs of depression. STORY HIGHLIGHTS The situation is predictably worse if both parents are depressed That proportion increases to 11% if the father is depressed Genes often play a role in passing depression and other mental-health problems (Health.com) -- Doctors and researchers have known for years that children are more likely to develop mental-health problems if their mother has struggled with depression. But what if it's the father who's depressed? According to a new study -- one of the first to examine mental-health patterns in a nationally representative sample of dads and kids -- a child's odds of developing emotional or behavioral problems increase by as much as 70% if the father shows signs of depression. That's smaller than the increased risk associated with depressed moms, but it's still cause for concern, researchers say. "For years we've been studying maternal depression and how it affects children, but the medical community has done a huge disservice by ignoring fathers in this research," said the study's lead author, Michael Weitzman, a professor of pediatric medicine at New York University, in New York. "These findings reinforce what we already assumed -- that fathers matter, too, and they matter quite a lot." Health.com: 12 signs of depression in men The situation is predictably worse if both parents are depressed. Just 6% of children with two mentally healthy parents have serious emotional or behavioral problems, such as feeling sad or nervous, acting out at school, or clashing with family and peers, the study found. But that proportion increases to 11% if the father is depressed, 19% if the mother is depressed and 25% if both parents are depressed -- a strikingly high number, Weitzman says. Although the study doesn't prove that a parent's depression directly causes problems in children, rather than vice versa, previous research on mothers and children has clearly shown that it's generally mothers who influence kids' mental health, not the other way around. The idea that parents have an impact on their children's mental health is a "no-brainer," said Michael Brody, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Child Psychiatry and a visiting professor of American Studies at the University of Maryland, in College Park, Maryland. Genes often play a role in passing depression and other mental-health problems from parent to offspring, Brody said, and the family environment is also important. "We learn how to adapt to situations by looking at our parents as models," he says. "So if either parent is depressed, a kid is going to be influenced by this." Health.com: How to help someone who's depressed The study, which appears in the December issue of the journal Pediatrics, included nearly 22,000 two-parent families who participated in federal health surveys between 2004 and 2008. During in-home visits, researchers interviewed one adult in each household -- typically the mother -- about the mental health of all family members (including the interviewee). The researchers used two separate questionnaires to record the overall mental health and depression symptoms of the parents. These questionnaires were used only for screening purposes, the study notes, and were not equivalent to the official symptom checklists doctors use to diagnose depression. If the father displayed below-average mental health or depression symptoms, a child's odds of having similar problems increased by 33% and 70%, respectively. The child's odds increased even more -- by as much as 200% -- if the mother had mental-health problems instead. Health.com: 10 things to say (and not say) to someone with depression Boys, 12- to 17-year-olds, and white children with depressed dads had higher rates of emotional and behavioral problems than did girls, younger kids, and children of other ethnicities. The study was limited to children who live with both parents, however, so the findings as a whole don't necessarily apply to all households and family situations, the authors note. Doctors and mental-health professionals have to do a better job of looking at the entire family picture when one member shows signs of depression, and asking about what role the father plays in a child's upbringing, Brody says. "The good news is that dads are participating in their children's lives; they're active and they're interested," he says. "The bad news is that if they're participating in a negative way, it's going to affect the kids." Men who are feeling depressed should seek treatment, if only for the sake of their children, Brody adds. "Women are more likely to seek medical treatment in general, and psychiatric health, specifically," he says. "This is just another reason for men who are feeling down or know they're experiencing depression...to seek help."