Sri Lanka: Increase in suicides in former war zones

By Udara Soysa | The Sunday Leader
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An alarming increase in suicides is being reported in former war zones in the North, according to psychological experts. Despite the atmosphere of euphoria that prevailed in some areas following the war victory, many people in the North are still traumatised.

A psycho-social consultant from the Wanni, Dr Thayalini Thiagarajah said that people in the North are still highly traumatized. 
“People are suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, depression,
acute stress disorder, and other mental diseases,” she said.

An increase in the reported cases of suicide is the latest outcome of
the situation.

“The suicidal rate is high, especially among women. At present, around
500 patients with mental illness have been identified. According to sources from
Kilinochchi hospital, four people commit suicide daily,” Thiagarajah
pointed out.

There are thousands of young widows currently in the Wanni.

What is worse, those identified as suffering from mental illness in the Wanni, often find it difficult to get treatment.

This is because there is a severe lack of
psychiatrists, counselors and social workers in the Wanni, according to Thiagarajah.

“How long is it going to take for people to have ‘holistic
healing’ and lead a normal life? May be a couple of generations,” she
said.

© The Sunday Leader