Life is a divine gift bestowed upon us by Allah Ta'ala, one that we must cherish and hold dear. For we shall be held accountable for how we utilized this blessing and whether we treated it with fairness and reverence. Lately, Kashmir has witnessed a spate of suicides, predominantly among the youth, leaving us pondering over the reasons behind such despondency.

Could it be that the scourge of unemployment has pushed these young minds to the brink of despair, with no hope in sight? Or is the pervasive drug culture so pervasive that there seems no escape from this quagmire? Perhaps, their mental equilibrium is disturbed, leaving them incapable of discerning right from wrong.
This unfortunate trend has prompted us to introspect and question the adequacy of our upbringing. Parents desire their offspring to be well-educated and carve a successful name for themselves, yet some young souls see no reason to live and end up taking their own lives along with their parents' dreams. Alarming incidents of youth inflicting sharp wounds on themselves have occurred recently in Ganderbal, Srinagar, and Anantnag, sending shivers down our spines. The issue is not merely about the physical harm they have caused themselves, but rather the disheartening direction our youth are heading in. Budgam and Sopore have also been witness to such tragic events, adding to a long list of similar incidents that have occurred over the past five years. Undeniably, the proliferation of drug addiction has exacerbated this situation, as highlighted by Dr. Junaid Nabi, a lecturer at a mental health institution. He has cautioned against "copycat suicide" and implored the media to exercise discretion while reporting such news. The uncertain environment and the easy availability of drugs have both contributed to the rising suicide rates, further exacerbated by the distressing increase in unemployment. Disheartening to see that the educated youth, who are the hope for our future, feel paralyzed and perceive their future as bleak, driving them to take such a drastic step. Let us use this moment to reflect on how we can address these issues and offer our support to those in need, to help them see the beauty and hope that life has to offer.
The value of life cannot be understated, yet the recent spate of suicides in the Kashmir Valley highlights the urgent need for greater intervention to address this growing concern. Why are our young people feeling so hopeless and helpless that they are taking their own lives?
The root cause of this crisis is multi-faceted. Unemployment, drug addiction, mental illness, and a lack of proper education are all factors that contribute to this rising tide of suicide. Inflation, which has skyrocketed in recent years, is also a significant factor. The cost of living has become too high for many to bear, and the price of basic necessities has become unaffordable.
“According to the government's Crime Gazette for 2021, the number of suicides in Indian-administered Kashmir has increased dramatically. The region has a higher suicide rate than other Indian states, with 586 suicides recorded last year and 472 in 2020. Over the past decade, there have been 2,612 deaths by suicide in the region.
Experts have also attributed the rise in suicide rates to the ongoing conflict in the region, which has led to widespread trauma and stress. Studies show that around 45% of the population in the region suffer from some form of mental disorder, particularly among vulnerable Groups It is clear that urgent action is needed to address this crisis.”
The government and NGOs must conduct counselling programs to provide timely training to those who are at risk of taking their own lives. It is time for all of us to come together and address this issue before it is too late.

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