Thread: #SuicidePrevention
I promised to tell you abt research on a new treatment which ↓suicides by 60%.
It's from Brazil & Indonesia, 2 countries ~ similar to India in development indicators. India has ~250k suicides /yr so ↓ 60% could save 150,000 lives.
Brazil first ..1/n
I promised to tell you abt research on a new treatment which ↓suicides by 60%.
It's from Brazil & Indonesia, 2 countries ~ similar to India in development indicators. India has ~250k suicides /yr so ↓ 60% could save 150,000 lives.
Brazil first ..1/n
The Brazil study covers 50% of the population with information on 114 million ppl followed up for 12 yrs. Impressive, isn't it?
About half, 69 million received the new treatment & rest were controls. Those receiving the treatment had 61% lower suicide rate than controls ....2/n
About half, 69 million received the new treatment & rest were controls. Those receiving the treatment had 61% lower suicide rate than controls ....2/n
and the effect was higher in women & young people.
Another study from Indonesia covered 10% of the population and found the same treatment reduced suicides by 18%.
I am not aware of any other Rx with such large effects on suicide prevention at population level..3/n
Another study from Indonesia covered 10% of the population and found the same treatment reduced suicides by 18%.
I am not aware of any other Rx with such large effects on suicide prevention at population level..3/n
It is a universal prevention intervention. That is, it's not just targeted at those potentially at risk of suicide but at populations. Importantly the effects don't wear off over time.
What is this wonderful treatment, you will ask. Why is it not being made available to all? 4/n
What is this wonderful treatment, you will ask. Why is it not being made available to all? 4/n
Conditional Cash Transfers.
The treatment with amazing impact in ↓ suicides. No mental health treatment comes even remotely close to it.
Proof that social interventions have outsized benefits, frequently > conventional mental health treatment...5/n
The treatment with amazing impact in ↓ suicides. No mental health treatment comes even remotely close to it.
Proof that social interventions have outsized benefits, frequently > conventional mental health treatment...5/n
If you are disappointed reading this, bcoz you expected a miracle drug, you need to re-examine your assumptions. Ask yourself what matters more 2 you? Ideology or saving lives?
@SanityByTanmoy recently wrote about the Brazil research. do read here:
sanitybytanmoy.substack.com/p/the-miracle-…
6/n
@SanityByTanmoy recently wrote about the Brazil research. do read here:
sanitybytanmoy.substack.com/p/the-miracle-…
6/n
"Bolsa Familia" program started in 2003 by President Lula pays ~ US$ 17/mth to poorest families
The Indonesian study is here:
econpapers.repec.org/article/tprres…
The Indonesian study is here:
econpapers.repec.org/article/tprres…
Why is this important?
Covid pandemic is likely to lead to ↑poverty (it has already happened in India) & possible ↑se in suicide rates in the coming years. After the 2008 financial crisis, Greece saw ↑ in suicide rates from 2009-2012.
We don't know whether suicides have..8/n
Covid pandemic is likely to lead to ↑poverty (it has already happened in India) & possible ↑se in suicide rates in the coming years. After the 2008 financial crisis, Greece saw ↑ in suicide rates from 2009-2012.
We don't know whether suicides have..8/n
↑/↓/remained same in India bcoz the NCRB has not released the data.
India has 16% of world population, but accounts for nearly 30% of world suicides.
And no one in India keeps data on attempted suicides. In other countries, attempts are 4-20 times suicide nos...9/n
India has 16% of world population, but accounts for nearly 30% of world suicides.
And no one in India keeps data on attempted suicides. In other countries, attempts are 4-20 times suicide nos...9/n
By this count, India has anywhere between 1 million to 5 million suicide attempts each year.
This is year on year, for past many decades.
So, as a concerned citizen what will you do with all this information you just read?
Poverty kills in more ways than you imagined...10/n
This is year on year, for past many decades.
So, as a concerned citizen what will you do with all this information you just read?
Poverty kills in more ways than you imagined...10/n
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