Mental health issues are behind rising cases of murder-suicides

Incidents of parents taking their lives together with the lives of their own children are on the increase. iStockphoto]

Mental health is a pre-condition for a healthy nation. Citizens need to be mentally and physically healthy to bring up a healthy young generation. We understand, for instance, that countries caught up in conflicts have to deal with the long-term effects of war on citizens. Similarly, communities suffering from economic and social inequalities have many cases of mental health problems.

Incidents of parents taking their lives together with the lives of their own children are on the increase. Something is amiss in our society. By the time an adult contemplates taking his/her own life, one would have to be mentally crushed. The person reaches a conclusion that there are no other options left to explore except killing themself. The world, in the mind of someone considering death as an option, is impenetrable for solutions. Everything, everyone, everywhere seems unfriendly, unsupportive, and judgmental. In brief, the world turns out to be cruel, unresponsive and therefore inhabitable.