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Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide

started by sara Boji 4 mnths ago
A homeless man with severe mental problems had been released from Westchester Medical Center's psychiatric unit a day or two before he committed suicide by jumping off the Tappan Zee Bridge, police said.

Ganesh Santhanakrishnan, a 27-year-old who had been sleeping in a storage shed in Ossining before he was arrested last month for trespassing, spent a week in jail before he was sent to the hospital for further psychiatric evaluation.

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  asiamajorminor posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide on 4 mnths ago
This is sad... Especially if one is sincere to perform in their work, as are many of the Indian immigrants.

  atcg posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide on 4 mnths ago
This incident is wrenching. It is unbelievable that he was known in the neighborhood as eccentric and no one cared to report him to get some help. If he was simply considered a "nuisance" it goes to show how much ignorance there is, in the general public. It didnt have to end this way.

I'm angry at the callousness of the American system that sees individuals in terms of statistics, liability and getting the paperwork in order. Each immigrant essentially is performing a live high wire act without safety net and friends in the community are the extended family. 

This hit very close to home - 8 years ago, I became unemployed and lost my sanity. Thankfully, I had a wife smart enough to realize it was mental health, and supportive friends. I wish Ganesh had some friends that kept in touch with him.
  Maria S posted Re:Mental health issues-Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide on 4 mnths ago

"This hit very close to home - 8 years ago, I became unemployed and lost my sanity. Thankfully, I had a wife smart enough to realize it was mental health, and supportive friends."

_________

atcg,

You are a fortunate person- and your wife and family deserve much appreciation...hope you continue to be well:)

As for the multiple issues (health/employment/immigrant etc) involved in these kinds of sad situations..again, every situation is unique..I do not know the facts of this case...but, I do suspect "mental illness- is likely to have been one component", and there were other reasons.

*Can all suicides be prevented? No.

In 2008, I have known of at least 5 suicides (all Indian men in the US) and many "attempted" suicides (both men and women)...some of them did have families/were economically well off...two of them were medical professionals...(one a medical student- other a 55-year old physician)...there have been also Indian students (post grad/professional)- who live with other Indian students (*and did have a strong support system).

*Very often- depression and other underlying mental health issues (diagnosed and undiagnosed) contribute to suicides..(employment/economic issues) may/may not be part of it...occasionally it is a "spontaneous decision"..and sometimes it is just "a cry for help" (to get attention- with no real intentions to commit the act..)..so the situations vary...sometimes it is an overdose...

*Even with people who are diagnosed-if there are "lapses" in taking meds..and the person is "fragile" (even if they have the most loving and supportive family/friends)...
There is much denial by the person and the family who think they are "back to normal" (some may be- some may not).

Can we as extended Indian families/communities..raise more awareness (encourage to seek mental health help- if there are signs/symptoms)...sure! Is there such a need to help as private individuals and groups/orgs?
Absolutely.

M
  Uppili posted Re:Mental health issues-Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide on 4 mnths ago
This is even more so among the Indians, who dread the stigma attached to Psychiatrists and Psychologists. Even counselors are a no-no. With growing individualization of the society, one can expect this to increase. Add to that the fear of the Psych drugs with daily "findings" of many drugs causing suicidal tendencies.  Does not make it any easier for the REAL people who need medical help.
  Maria S posted Re:Mental health issues-Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide on 4 mnths ago
"This is even more so among the Indians, who dread the stigma attached to Psychiatrists and Psychologists. Even counselors are a no-no. With growing individualization of the society, one can expect this to increase. "

______________

That was my point....Indians still do not think of mental illnesses, just as other any other "physical illnesses"...they are in denial, try to simplify the most complex -will try to associate it with "if she/he has a better job/more money"..they would have been okay, or if their family "treated them better"...he/she would have been okay..or "they look okay- they must be fine"...etc, etc.
(*Well- that may be partially true...but is still only a part of dealing with it).

*Of all the human illnesses to diagnose..the human mind is unbelievably complex...one can't "slap a label" from the medical books..and be done with the diagnosis and treatment...
And you are right...."pills" don't cure it all...have plenty of side effects...but, if the benefits of taking them outweigh the risks it is very important...that patients are encouraged to take the meds- on a regular/consistent basis.

*Remove stigmas- tell people it is okay to seek help..as human beings-.we are again "fragile" (with different tipping and breaking points- some due to GENETIC, some due to ENVIRONMENTAL reasons) )...don't worry about what people think- take care of yourself...if people say "I may have a medical illness"- Do NOTt minimize/make fun of them..find help or leave them alone.

M



  VC posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide on 4 mnths ago
> Each immigrant essentially is performing a live high wire act without safety net

Yep. And different people are doing this at different times.


  Kris posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide on 4 mnths ago
This is sad indeed. Perhaps if he had stayed in touch with some friends, they could have helped him.

There was a student from Zimbabwe who went thru a core meltdown when I was in school. There was a lady who worked in the foreign student office who put up the plane fare for his return home. I went with her to the airport. The guy was bright and had won a scholarship to do some work in biochemistry. He had bad news from home about his brother getting killed and it triggered his problems. In GS's case, what a sad loss.

  VC posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide on 4 mnths ago
He seems to have been highly educated. Calling him "a homeless man with severe mental problems" is a travesty. I am sure that losing his job contributed in major ways to this tragedy. Perhaps he didn't have the right visa to get another job. Techies are exploited -- both at universities and in industry. The local Indian community is toothless and should be ashamed of itself. (Of course, it probably is full of Vedantins busy raising money for the next temple.)

  Seva posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide (two comments related to this tragic story) on 4 mnths ago

(1) PaulWM wrote:
It may come as a surprise to some that Ganesh was a talented computer scientist, who had contributed several publications to the field. See for example, http://rodos.cs.pitt.edu:8090/aps/bib/02b15eaa0946d899010946e11f9b02ac/1-4-7-Li9835.pdf

I think his collaborators would agree that he had potential for many more contributions in the future.
Like everyone else, Ganesh was a multifaceted complex individual, with more than his share of talents and deficiencies. To characterize him in purely negative terms is an insult to him, an affront to his family, and a disservice to the community.
4/16/2008 4:28:11 

(2) naveenjha123 wrote:
To the Bob's in this country: I knew Ganesh Santhanakrishnan. Shared an apartment with him 7 years ago. He was a graduate student and my classmate in Computer Science at a reputable University in the US. The guy was one of the smarter people you get to meet sometimes. Certainly not a nut-job or psycho. He has published over a dozen scientific publications in reputed journals (do a google search, if you are curious). That alone would obligate a society to spend money on him and help him. I lost touch with him because I was done earlier (not sure whether he finished his PhD). I could bet he wasn't living in this country illegally. His skills would be in great demand. Its sad to hear that he is no more. Ignorant comments from people like Bob could do little to make me feel worse. But I had to correct him. From what I read here, this person needed help. Wish he got it.
4/16/2008 4:18:11

 
  Uppili posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide (two comments related to this tragic story) on 4 mnths ago
I just googled and saw a webpage on this guy.... had 3 Journal papers, many conference papers and technical reports.

IF it is the same guy, then it is stupid of the cops not to know him. In this day and age, that is the first thing they should do...Google a guy's name rather than run a check for warrants in their databases.

If they had run that name they would know immediately something is not right and this guy is not the usual homelss guy screaming in the middle of a road.

Like Maria Madam stated there are many many more that are not reported.....
  Seva posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide (two comments related to this tragic story) on 4 mnths ago
May his soul find peace ultimately!  

This is really a huge tragedy and I feel sorry for his parents and family in India. I wish there is more social support for people facing problems (financial, academic etc.), depression and loneliness etc. As Maria pointed out, it is a mental health issue and needs to be tackled with more care, greater awareness and resources. 
  VC posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide (two comments related to this tragic story) on 4 mnths ago
It is mostly an economic/stress/support system/culture shock issue. (Of course, anything can be called as a mental issue.)
  Seva posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide (two comments related to this tragic story) on 4 mnths ago

Any stress, depression and feeling of total helplessness leading to this type of end (suicide) is a mental health issue, in addition to other problems (academic, financial and loneliness etc.)

 

 
  denice _menace posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide (two comments related to this tragic story) on 4 mnths ago
yeah true...

but no one empathises iwth such people in real life anyway..they think that such people are to be kept "away"
maybe if you watch Krazy4  movie , the attempt to draw a line between sanity and insanity has gone bad..but eth effort was worth it..

  VC posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide (two comments related to this tragic story) on 4 mnths ago
Calling it a mental issue hides the problem completely and thus is useless (though it may make you and Maria feel important).

If he could have found another job easily, almost certainly, all this could have been avoided. I
  Propagandhi12 posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide (two comments related to this tragic story) on 4 mnths ago
I dont know if I told you this before, but you're a fucking moron. you think a bright guy like that couldnt have gone back and made a good living in desh with his resume? losing job is an end of life deal for ppl with mental problems, not normal ppl.
  Generalist posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide (two comments related to this tragic story) on 4 mnths ago
dude..what if did not wanted to go back?i mean after all we are what we think we are or will be..isin't it?
he must be tired of living in india and hence would have wanted to try it out here..and hence he ended his life.
only sane people commit suicide..insane people cannot commit suicide.atleast not this way,...
  Propagandhi12 posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide (two comments related to this tragic story) on 4 mnths ago
if a single young guy with educational credentials that are sought after thinks his life is worth ending because he lost a job then he's seriously mentally ill. what he needs/neeeded was psychiatric care and family support. getting him a new job wont help any.
  Generalist posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide (two comments related to this tragic story) on 4 mnths ago
insane people cannot commit suicide..only sane people do.
  Uppili posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide (two comments related to this tragic story) on 4 mnths ago
Yeah  right... Insane people commit only murders as you can see in all the inasnity defense pleas.  Before they can murder the sane people they commit suicide.

  Propagandhi12 posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide (two comments related to this tragic story) on 4 mnths ago

yeah ok



  Seva posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide (two comments related to this tragic story) on 4 mnths ago
he must be tired of living in india and hence would have wanted to try it out here..and hence he ended his life.

>>> It probably had more to do with not returning home (to India) from US empty-handed or as a failure rather than being tired of India or very much wanting to stay in the US.



  Generalist posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide (two comments related to this tragic story) on 4 mnths ago
you are slightly wrong..many people even guys from IIT have commited suicides...

  Uppili posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide (two comments related to this tragic story) on 4 mnths ago
>> I dont know if I told you this before, but you're a fucking moron.

The above is ONE reason why CHers do not want to reveal their real name, location, and profession.
  Propagandhi12 posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide (two comments related to this tragic story) on 4 mnths ago
oh what? I call your guru a moron and you're suddenly outraged? get a grip.
  Uppili posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide (two comments related to this tragic story) on 4 mnths ago
ROFLMAO....  Looks like your sarcasmOmeter gets turned off when you are mad....

BTW, who is my guru ? VC???  Hahahahahaa.... You must be mistaking me for Rashman.



  VC posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide (two comments related to this tragic story) on 4 mnths ago
You are the poster child of moronism.
  Propagandhi12 posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide (two comments related to this tragic story) on 4 mnths ago

you dont realize it but you're in need for some mental help yourself...instead you selfmedicate with a false sense of superiority, trashing your own culture and becoming a skinner geek with goofball ideas that you couch in superficially intellectual sounding language. an educated idiot is still an idiot.

PS: what is with you madras nivaasis in late 40s and early 50s? complete specimens..you, maxipad, phlegmy, goodcitizen....was something added to the madras water around the time you were growing up circa 1960-80?

  Truthbetold3 posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide (two comments related to this tragic story) on 4 mnths ago

VC,

 Why do you bring unrelated issues of temple into this discussion. Your jaundiced view of the world causes you to lose common sense.

Your education has not taught you common sense. Just because this is a virtual forum, you go wild with your nonsensical comments. 

Your are arrogant studid idiot. You have no social skills and do not know what to say in a given situation.  You are a third rate dirt bag. 

 

 
  Rashmun posted Re:(VC)Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide (two comments related to this tragic story) on 4 mnths ago
Hi VC,
don't mind the filth springing forth from Liesbetold's dirty mouth.
  Rashmun posted Re:(VC)Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide (two comments related to this tragic story) on 4 mnths ago
Liesbetold believes that since brahmins were dominating in the economic sphere all over India they should now be penalized somehow. He thinks caste based reservations, in which brahmins are penalized, will do the trick. Clearly, Liesbetold hates all brahmins for some reason.
  Rashmun posted Re:(VC)Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide (two comments related to this tragic story) on 4 mnths ago
Liesbetold believes that since brahmins were dominating in the economic sphere all over India they should now be penalized somehow.


--> It is so obvious that Liesbetold is telling lies when he claims that brahmins were dominating in the economic sphere all over India.



  Uppili posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide (two comments related to this tragic story) on 4 mnths ago
Rashmun disagrees with you.
  Truthbetold3 posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide (two comments related to this tragic story) on 4 mnths ago

Age is not the only sign of mental maturity. These guys have education and have been old enough to know when to say what. But VC and Rashmun are grown babies who have no social skills and live in their jaundiced myopic little world. What a sickening human being.





  Seva posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide (two comments related to this tragic story) on 4 mnths ago
If he could have found another job easily, almost certainly, all this could have been avoided.

>>> So you think that the lack of appointment (job) letter directly led to this tragedy. It's not that simple. He probably experienced extreme frustration, helplessness and depression (all mental factors) due to his academic and professional situation (failure) which led him to take his own life. It's a mental health issue as much as the rest (financial and physical etc.).

  FluteHolder posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide (two comments related to this tragic story) on 4 mnths ago

Very sad...

He seems from REC Trichy (now called NIT)... Lack of support systems in Indian community is to be blamed.   Not sure whether he was able to contact any org earlier.... 

With so much desi organisations/population/temples  in E/NE this could have prevented..... 
  Uppili posted Re:Homeless desi in New Jersey commits suicide (two comments related to this tragic story) on 4 mnths ago
This happens all too often.

A few years ago, there was a student at a not so insignificant University in my not so insignificant city was living in the car for 2 months. Due to several repeated problems from him, he ended up in the police station and then a Mental institution. No one knew...about this for 3,4 days. Anyway, a couple of people worked on necessary things took food for him (a veggie guy who would not eat anything else), managed to work through some Indian Docs, got him released and put on a plane with insurance-paid escort to India. Some people at the Univ massaged the system to get him the degree - as he was going to graduate within 2 weeks.

This guy was a little lucky - only bcz he was a student with whom people came in contact often.