Writer: Ratika Rana
#Indian #women comprise just 18 per cent of the global #female population but contribute over 36 per cent of global #female #suicide deaths. #Suicide is India’s leading cause of death among #women ages 15 to 29 years.
Since childhood, #girls and #boys have been taught about how they should behave in public settings and how their body language should be. While, on the one hand, #boys are often told that they should not cry, #girls are often conceived to be sensitive, emotional and weak.
Moreover, in #Asian countries, girls and #women in the families are not allowed to express their opinions and voice for change. Thus, the #psychological well-being of the feminine gender has often been compromised at the hands of social customs and traditions.
#JamesDonaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
Order your copy of James Donaldson’s latest book,
Celebrating Your Gift of Life:
From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy
A study by STEER Education found that #girls’ #mentalhealth is “at a precipice”, with tens of thousands now hiding signs of deep distress from their #teachers and #parents. The UK-based study also raises similar concerns in #Asian and South-Asian households where many #girls drop out of #schools and sacrifice their education due to the lack of basic amenities. The study revealed that #girls aged 11 years were now 30 per cent more likely to suffer from poor #mentalhealth than #boys of the same age. By the time #girls reach 18 years, they were now more than twice as likely to experience poor #mentalhealth as #boys of the same period.
Moreover, the #pandemic has affected #girls’ #mentalhealth in a more adverse manner than the #boys. #Girls Now 33% More Likely To Have #MentalHealthIssues #Girls were now 33 per cent more likely to incur #mentalhealthissues than the same age in the pre-#pandemic era.
Compared to 2018, both #boys and #girls are now 40% less trusting of others, 25% less likely to take risks and 25% less able to choose an appropriate and measured response to life’s everyday challenges.
#Women and #girls in #India are attempting #suicide at an alarming rate. A study published by the Lancet Public Health revealed that #Indian #women contributed over 36 per cent to the global #female #suicide deaths, despite comprising merely 18 per cent of the worldwide population.
The Global Health Data Exchange provides a database that can track worldwide health trends and demographics. According to the database, #India has the highest #suicide rate among young and middle-aged #women for countries with similar socio-demographics. After independence, #India has shown significant progress in women’s inclusion and gender inequality. Therefore, as #women became more educated and empowered in the country, arranged marriages declined significantly. However, in several sections, #women still possess a lower status and suffer from a lack of opportunity.
Vikram Patel, a professor of Global Health at Harvard University, said, “Deaths that occur due to #suicide are also a product of the method used”. In the West, while #women attempt more #suicides, #men use more lethal methods, thus resulting in more deaths. On the other hand, in #India, both #men and #women use fatal methods. #Suicide death rates in #India are amongst the highest in the world. A large proportion of suicides occur at younger ages, especially in #women. Much of #Indian suicides may be avoidable, starting with controlling access to pesticides.
#India Has One of The Highest #Suicide Rates In The World The #WorldHealthOrganization (#WHO) estimates that nearly 9,00,000 people worldwide die from #suicide every year, including about 2,00,000 in China, about 1,70,000 in #India, and 1,40,000 in high-income countries. #India relies heavily on the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) for data regarding suicides, which is heavily under-reported.
Puberty occurs to #girls earlier than it occurs to #boys. Therefore, #girls become conscious of their body language and appearance earlier than #boys experience the biological changes. Moreover, #adolescents in the 21st century have to keep up with the fast-changing digital world, coupled with #socialmedia, which further adds to the pressure. In recent times, #mentalhealth has become one of the most often discussed topics in public gatherings, seminars and workshops.
The National #MentalHealth Survey, 2015-16, shows that 9.8 million #teenagers aged 13-17 years suffer from #depression and other #mentalhealth ailments and are “in need of active intervention”. The pressure of fulfilling heightened expectations, the inability to question various gender stereotypes, no means for dialogue or discussion surrounding health, and the lack of access to qualified and friendly #therapists or #counsellors are some of the few causes of the declining #mentalhealth amongst young #girls and #women.
One of the most common discussions that come up while looking at the #mentalhealthconditions of youngsters is looking into the ‘why’ of the problem. Like any other physical illness, #mentalhealthconditions need not always have a designated root cause. Causes Of #MentalHealthDisorders Amongst #Adolescents #Childhood trauma, excessive pressure to be the best, peer pressure, being a victim of bullying, body shaming and not belonging to a financially secure background are the most common examples of trigger points for several #adolescents.
#Mentalhealthissues amongst the #youth are catastrophic as they make the youngsters vulnerable to substance abuse and #alcoholism. Since times are changing and both #parents are working, they lose out on what their #children see and do on the internet. Therefore, the need of the hour involves a collective effort from #teachers and the #parents to involve themselves in children’s lives and know what is happening. Moreover, #adults need to understand that with changing times, the emotional needs of the #children are also changing. Therefore, approaching #children in a friendly manner and entrusting responsibilities on their shoulders might help them improve their self-worth and increase their self-confidence.
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
