The culture of shame
The context in which we are living now, every day multiple issues come up related to "Shame" and "honor" which affects clinical management of patients. A girl admitted with suicide attempt on a ventilator tried communicating to us, writing on a paper - first note - please save my life, second note - please adopt me. The father seemed to be keen for her to be treated and looking forward to her recovery, but was not taking any efforts to pay the bills, or support in decision making, though they seemed to have the resources to support her treatment. The shame of having a daughter (though she is doing her BA) who has tried to commit suicide, was that why the father was aloof? Did the girl know that the honor of her family was at stake and that is why she did not want to go home? Parents (both mother and father) when asked about the number of children they have - would blissfully say - 2 "bacha" and when asked again, how many girls you have, they will say