A Parallel ‘Pandemic' Covid's Heavy Mental Toll

Cases of anxiety and depression spike in Delhi, other cities Suicide prevention helplines see 80% jump in distress calls City’s 2 senior IRS officers commit suicide within a fortnight.

- Chayyanika Nigam

Shivraj Singh, a 56year-old IRS officer, committed suicide by drinking ‘acid-like substance’ in his car in Delhi’s Dwarka area on Sunday.

He had suspected himself to be a Covid-19 patient and wanted to protect his family from any potential infection, the suicide note he left behind suggested.

The coronavirus test report that came after his death, however, said he didn’t have the highly contagious disease. Shivraj had been depressed for some time, and was planning to seek voluntary retirement.

Two weeks ago, Keshav Saxena, another IRS officer suffering from depression, killed himself at his residence in the city’s Chanakyapuri area. His body was found in his room by his wife. A suicide note was also recovered.

Prior to that, 23-year-old student suspected to have contracted coronavirus jumped to death from a seventh floor window of a building at Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital.

He took the extreme step while completing formalities for quarantine admission soon after landing at IGI Airport from Sydney. The test report that came after his death said he didn’t have the coronavirus.

While Covid-19 infections and deaths continue to mount, the pandemic that led to a prolonged lockdown is now also triggering a serious mental health crisis. Actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s suicide, though not linked to the Covid-19 crisis, has put a bigger spotlight on it.

Hospitals have reported a 40% rise in cases of stress, insomnia, anxiety and depression in Delhi and other cities.

Major triggers are uncertainty, isolation and financial despair, caused by the coronavirus crisis.

HELPLINES FLOODED