Pune’s elderly fight loneliness, depression, suicidal tendencies

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Last February, a 65-year-old, a resident of Kothrud, committed suicide by immolating herself. The relatives’ statement recorded by the police suggested she was suffering from an illness that led her to depression.

Though the maximum number of calls received by the suicide prevention helpline of Connecting NGO are from people falling in the age bracket of 25 to 40 years, in the last two years, it has received nearly 90 calls from senior citizens wherein most confessed going through loneliness, rejection from family, depression and dealing with illnesses.

“As compared to say five to six years ago, when we hardly got calls from the elderlies, the numbers are slowly and steadily increasing,” says Harshal Varpe, publicity coordinator, Connecting NGO. The helpline reaches out to those going through distress and seeking emotional support. The helpline (1800-209-4353 (toll-free) & 09922001122) is operational all 365 days from 2 pm to 8 pm.

Nirmala Sovani, secretary and one of the trustees of old age home at Niwara which is 150 years old, says, “Every week, almost six to 10 people visit us to seek admission. Twenty years ago, the same figure was hardly anything. A number of times, we see an old man or a woman visiting on his/her own seeking admission at Niwara. Obviously, we can’t give admission to all of them and have to do necessary background check as well.”

Old age, according to Sovani, is a time when a person feels lonely and dependent on others. Very often, they go into depression. “That is the reason why we at Niwara keep eight of them together in a big room so they are never alone. We also keep them occupied in different activities,” she added.

Niwara has a capacity to house 200 people and is currently occupied to its full capacity.

The Sant Baba Moni Saheb Anand Aashram in Chinchwad currently accommodates 80 members although its capacity is 65 members. Manna Singh, who works as a ‘sevak’ in the aashram, says, “Children of many of the members leave them in the aashram and go. They pay for a month. Later, when we call them, they don’t respond. By chance if anyone responds, they say it’s a wrong number. Although once the member passes away, they are prompt to come and collect the death certificate of their family member.”

Pushpa Kemlani (74), who was admitted to the aashram in 2013, says, “I am very depressed because my husband passed away two years ago. I have no children. After my husband’s death, I feel lonely because of which I also feel weak. After his death, I feel like I have no support. I have made a good friend in the aashram. She gives me hope to live.”

Krishna Telangi (65), who came to the aashram two years ago, says, “I have no one. I am upset at times, but when little students come to meet us, it makes me forget all my sorrows. We are more than happy when anyone comes to meet us. That is all we need”.

According to psychotherapist Dr Vidyadhar Bapat, whose 10 per cent of total number of patients are elderly persons, most of the “mentally ill” elderly remain untreated for long time due to stigma attached to the term. The stigma attached to mental illness and psychiatric treatment is even more powerful among the elderly than among younger people. This stigma can keep elderly people from acknowledging that they are depressed, even to themselves.

“Sometimes elderly people and their families may wrongly identify depression symptoms as ‘normal’ reactions to life stresses, losses or the aging process. Also, depression may be expressed through physical complaints rather than traditional symptoms. This delays appropriate treatment,” he says, adding that the reasons for depression in old age patients include imbalance in neurotransmitters, genetics and stressful life events. These reasons also include lack of bonding, lack of communication among family members, small families, nuclear families and lack of empathy-love in the new generation.

(with inputs by Rutuja Kamble)