the big story

The death of Sushant Singh Rajput

The TLDR: The 34-year old actor appears to have died by suicide. The tragic event sparked a heated, often angry—but timely—conversation about mental illness. 

What happened?

Wait, can we start by talking about Rajput’s life instead.

Of course…

He was a Patna boy who wanted to be an astronaut, and later a pilot. As a teenager, he had a ‘Top Gun’ poster on his wall—which he angrily tore up the day his parents insisted on an engineering degree from Delhi Technological University instead. In fact, Rajput was a ridiculously bright science nerd, winning the National Olympiad in Physics.

He would finally rebel in the final year of college—dropping out to move into a tiny flat in Mumbai. Rajput landed his first big role—after playing a backup dancer in ‘Dhoom 2’—in the TV serial ‘Pavitra Rishta’. His big break: ‘Kai Po Che’ in 2013. And his most memorable role: ‘MS Dhoni: The Untold Story.’ For more, read The Hindu’s emotional tribute to his movie career.

Our favourite slice of Rajput’s life: is narrated in his own endearing words: 

“While preparing for engineering entrance exams, I’d sometimes take a break and stand in front of the mirror and lip-sync to Suraj Hua Maddham. I used to do these things but not with the ambition of becoming an actor. It was just for fun. Honestly, even if I would’ve been offered a role back then, I would’ve refused because I was a complete introvert. 

 

The lip-syncing and posing would happen only in front of the mirror, with just me in the audience. I wanted to be the head boy in my school but, when I had to give a speech, I didn’t go to school that day. I didn’t want any attention. Of course, we all need some kind of acknowledgement, but I was getting that with my grades. I had just two or three close friends but that was it. Life was perfect! Or so I thought.”

That’s lovely and sad…

Yes, and also a reminder that Rajput is not just a headline or a dead movie star—but a human being who lived and laughed.

Do we know why…?

No. There has been some unverified discussion of his struggle with depression. But until one of his family members decides to share his story, none of us will know—and that’s okay. A person’s medical history is their business, not ours… as in life, so in death. 

But people are talking about mental illness now…

Yes, and it was sparked by ugly media coverage that appeared to blame Rajput for ‘throwing away’ his life—and included photos of his body being wheeled away from his residence. (Reminder: someone leaked a clip of Rishi Kapoor during his last hours at the hospital. So this is hardly a new low). 

But the nastiness led to a big pushback on Twitter—much of which centred on use of the phrase “committed suicide,” which is viewed as harmful.

Wait, why is that wrong?

Because it stigmatizes and assigns blame to the person who died. A psychiatric expert explains: 

“The term ‘committed suicide’ is damaging because for many, if not most, people it evokes associations with ‘committed a crime’ or ‘committed a sin’ and makes us think about something morally reprehensible or illegal.”

And words matter because media coverage of celebrity deaths exacerbates a phenomenon doctors call ‘suicide contagion’—where exposure to suicide or suicidal behavior increases the number of suicides and suicidal behaviors. A 2018 study found:

“...stories about celebrity suicides, headlines that included information about how a suicide was completed and statements that made suicide seem inevitable were all correlated with suicide contagion. (Other research backs this up: In the four months after Robin Williams’ highly publicized 2014 death by suicide, one study found a 10% increase in suicides across the U.S.).”

Ok, we need to be careful with our words…

Yes, but more importantly, we need to take care of ourselves and our loved ones. Suicide is a very preventable tragedy. And the most important aspect of Rajput’s demise—and the one left unaddressed—is our own vulnerability during this time. 

Explain that to me

While there’s been a lot of attention given to the physical effects of the pandemic, it is also wreaking havoc with our mental health. According to the Scientific American:

“Even if most individuals prove resilient, the toll of the ­COVID-19 disruptions and the sheer numbers involved have experts warning of a mental illness ‘tsunami.’ People face a multiple wallop: the threat of disease, loneliness of isolation, loss of loved ones, repercussions of job loss and ongoing uncertainty about when the pandemic will end. Depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress will undoubtedly follow for some.”

Health professionals who have taken their own lives are like canaries in a coal mine—a warning of the toll that will inevitably affect the wider population. 

This is true in India too?

According to a recent survey, the number of reported cases of mental illness in India rose by 20% within a week of the lockdown. A leading suicide prevention expert warns: “At-risk populations include the 150 million with pre-existing mental health issues, Covid-19 survivors, frontline medical workers, young people, differently abled people, women, workers in the unorganized sector, and the elderly.”

But that doesn’t mean the rest of us are immune (pun unintended).

So what can we do?

First, pay attention to signs of trouble—either in you or your loved one:

• Physical signs are increased heartbeat or that ‘butterflies in your stomach’ sensation. Also: preoccupation with negative thoughts.
• Other signs are avoiding or withdrawing from others, becoming easily agitated, or aggressive, and excessive drinking or use of other narcotics.
• Look for significant changes in daily routine, such as sleep patterns or appetite.
• A red flag: the inability to focus or accomplish basic daily tasks.
• And finally: the loss of pleasure and motivation. You stop enjoying your favourite  activities. Or you find yourself losing interest in things that used to drive you.

Point to note: We all will experience some of these ‘symptoms’—and it is entirely natural. But if they start to escalate, then it is time to do something.

What’s that ‘something’?

 Here’s a quick list from The Conversation:

• helping others
• finding a type of exercise or physical activity you enjoy (like yoga)
• getting good sleep
• eating healthy food
• connecting with others, building and maintaining positive relationships
• having realistic expectations (no one is happy and positive all the time)
• learning ways to relax (such as meditation)
• counteracting negative or overcritical thinking
• doing things you enjoy and that give you a sense of accomplishment.

The good news: Research on human resilience shows that the vast majority of us will get through this:

“Two thirds of people follow a resilience trajectory and maintain relatively stable psychological and physical health. About 25% struggle temporarily with psychopathology such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder and then recover—a pattern known as the recovery trajectory. And 10% suffer lasting psychological distress. These results hold true across diverse populations and socioeconomic statuses.”

But we all need a helping hand sometimes. 

The bottom line: Suicide is a tragedy that can and should be prevented. Please read this valuable thread by Dr Soumitra Pathare. Plus: here’s a list of suicide prevention hotlines. Please share both widely.

 Reading list: 

• Hindustan Times has Rajput’s endearing first person account. The Hindu has the best tribute. Here is Rajput’s last Instagram post—a tribute to his late mother.
• Time has more on ‘suicide contagion’. 
• Scientific American offers a must-read deep dive into the latest research on the pandemic’s effects on our mental health. 
• Outlook India reports on how social distancing will affect the mental wellness of Indians.
• The Conversation has more on how to cultivate mental health.
• And here’s an excellent guide on how to respond if your loved one is not feeling ok.