'Tradition, slow growth equips Kolkatans to handle stress'

Retaining cultural heritage, slow economic growth and a slow rate of migration has equipped Kolkatans to cope with mental stress, leading to a low suicide rate among them as compared to people in other metro cities, according to an expert.
"Unlike other metropolitan cities, Kolkata has not grown rapidly from the view-point of economy. The growth has been very gradual and the city hasn't changed overnight. This has given people the time to assimilate things and handle stress in a better way," Lakshmi Vijaykumar, consultant psychiatrist for World Health Organisation, told PTI here.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 16th National Befrienders India Conference organised by the Lifeline Foundation to discuss the issue of depression and suicides, Vijaykumar said in other metro cities, urban stress is very high as compared to Kolkata.

"This stress is linked to education. More degrees means higher aspiration and more disappointment with failure," she said.
According to latest data from the National Crime Records Bureau, Kolkata has a suicide rate of just 2.6 per one lakh, while Chennai topped the list with 29. Bangalore ranked second among metros with 24, while Delhi and Mumbai have 9 and 7 rate respectively.
On an average, India records 15 suicides an hour.

The way Kolkata has chosen to stick to its roots by following tradition and retaining cultural heritage also helps people in handling stress, Vijaykumar said.
Another reason for less suicide in Kolkata is the slow rate of migration into the city.

"Some of the people who migrate from rural to urban areas are not able to cope up with the pressure of living in a city. This ultimately might lead to suicide. In Kolkata, migration from the rural areas is less relatively," said the Chennai-based suicide analyst.
According to a report published in the British Medical journal The Lancet, educated persons were at greater risk of committing suicide.
It said the risk of successfully committing a suicide was 43 per cent higher in men, who finished secondary or higher education, as compared to those who had not completed their primary education.