Losing Farmers To Suicides

Published by SIKHAID on February 15, 2021

As our humanitarian work continues in India we would like to highlight the work of our mental health teams.

One of the occupational hazards of small-scale farming in India has been loans incurred by farmers to feed the nation and their own families. These loans in many instances have created a vicious dependency loop with tragic consequences.
According to National Crime Records Bureau data on accidental deaths and suicides, in 2018 10,357 farmers committed suicide followed by 10,281 in 2019.

Over 350,000 farmers have died by suicide in India since 1995.

Against this backdrop, as farmers’ morcha continues on the borders of Delhi for economic justice, our teams are responding to the mental health needs of farmers.

On February 7th, Karamvir Singh Vaal from Haryana committed suicide at the Kundli border. He left a letter calling for justice and a family in mourning including 3 young daughters.
Our teams are providing financial compensation to the family through our Fallen Farmers Fund.
Small scale farmers like Karamvir Singh Vaal are facing a confluence of burdens as they seek justice. Extreme cold temperatures, camped far away from home, an uncertain future, economic hardships, police action, arrests and chronic medical ailments.
This tragic loss highlights mental health services being provided by our medical camps. Dr. Manmeet Kaur is a licensed clinical psychologist and Sanya Kataria is finishing doctorate in clinical psychology at Amity University in Delhi. Both of them have been offering their services in partnership with our urgent care teams for the past few weeks.

Sanya Kataria explained her reasons for volunteering her service,

“When I first went there I felt the stress many farmers are under. Far away from home. Sleeping outside, under trollies. The really cold temperatures. I was asking how do they take showers in the morning? The environmental conditions are so harsh. I felt they were in pain, there are everyday stresses amplified by these extraordinary circumstances. I want to offer the best way I can help. Through my mental health expertise ”

Pamphlets explaining mental health services have been distributed across different border sites. Symptoms to seek help have been detailed in these pamphlets:

Increased persistent anxiety
Sleeplessness
Loss of appetite
Thoughts of self-harm
Intense sadness

We have served hundreds of farmers in personal and group sessions.
Explaining how conversations about mental health can start the therapeutic process Dr. Manmeet Kaur shares an encounter from the Singhu border.

“One day we were distributing pamphlets. We met a group from Gwalior. A young woman in her early twenties pulled me to the side and asked what we were doing and why. I explained what is mental health and what services we are providing. She was in tears acknowledging she has been suffering from mental health issues. Nobody talks about them. She was grateful these services were being provided.”

Our mission to serve the physical and mental health needs of farmers will continue unabated throughout this movement.
We thank Dr. Manmeet Kataria and Sanya Kataria along with other medical professionals who are volunteering their time and expertise.
Our relief teams are also providing urgently needed legal aid services to families of farmers who have gone missing or have been arrested as part of this movement.

We are thankful to our donors for supporting
our mission and work.