The lack of psychosocial health among the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) has been now considered as one of the major factors contributing to suicide cases among the IDPs in relief camps.
Since the violence in Manipur erupted from Churachandpur district on May 3, the clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities escalated and spread throughout the state, including peripheral areas bordering Kuki and Meitei villages. Over 220 people have been killed while 60,000 people have been displaced so far.
To provide temporary shelters for the displaced people, the state government and local clubs established various relief camps. Additionally, the government has set up prefabricated houses in different districts of Manipur for temporary stays.
However, many of the IDPs have frequently demanded from the government and authorities concerned that they be allowed to return to their respective home from where they fled to save their lives from the violence. Meiteis living in Kuki-dominated areas have been displaced and are taking shelter in different relief camps and prefabricated houses, similar to the Kuki communities who have been displaced.
Many houses have been burned down, and even hundreds of houses in Khumujamba Leikai, Churachandpur district, have been bulldozed to the ground amid the violence. Many of the IDPs are still living in relief camps with mental trauma.
According to a State Mental Health report, a total of six IDPs were found attempting to commit suicide, while two IDPs committed suicide in the last 15 months of the Manipur crisis.
The report stated that the first case was detected on July 4, 2024 in Bishnupur district; one person each on September 8 and 12 from Kakching district, and one person on November 5 from Imphal East district.
It said all four cases were impulsive in nature.
In July, a displaced individual was also found attempting to hang himself at a relief camp in the Takmu Water Sports Complex, Bishnupur district.
Additionally, one differently-abled IDP was found attempting to commit suicide in Churachandpur district on June 10 last year, following incidents reported bullying and difficulty in adjusting to the relief camp as he could not keep up with others.
Meanwhile, two IDPs committed suicide inside the relief camp. The first case was detected on November 24 last year from Imphal East district, while another recent case was detected on July 10 this year at a government-run prefabricated house in Kwakta, Bishnupur district.
During an interview with the Director of Health Services, Dr O Sanahanbi Devi told Imphal Free Press on Monday that most of the IDPs, whether staying in relief camps, prefabricated houses, or with their relatives, are deprived of fundamental human rights and social health. This could be a major factor that IDPs are attempting such extreme stepts, and unfortunately, two IDPs have committed suicide, she said.
With the prolonged frustration of the ongoing violence, most of the IDPs, even students, are affected physically, mentally, and spiritually, she added.
Sanahanbi said regarding physical and mental health, they can be controlled by taking precautionary measures and receiving counseling from mental health experts. However, who will take care of the psychosocial health of IDPs? Although IDPs spend most of their time during the day outside, they have to return to their respective allocated prefabricated houses at night. Under these conditions, IDPs will remain traumatised.
Policy makers need to initiate measures to address the psychosocial health of IDPs, said the Director of Health Services.
Responding to Imphal Free Press, Sanahanbi said that the department visits most of the relief camps for medical check-ups at least twice a week, or more often in densely populated relief camps or prefabricated houses. Mental health awareness camps are also organised, she added.
She said the lack of psychosocial health among IDPs has made them dependent on intoxicants, including tobacco, alcohol, or even drugs. The mental trauma they have been facing for nearly 15 months could be a factor for committing suicide or attempting suicide, whether under the influence of intoxicants or not.
She further said policy makers need to take necessary measures if the state does not want to see an increase in suicide cases among IDPs, as state health services alone cannot prevent IDPs from engaging in such unwanted activities.
