Himanshu Roy dead: Doctors say people with terminal illness often struggle with depression

In his suicide note, the senior IPS officer from Mumbai said he was depressed owing to prolonged illness.

After IPS officer Himanshu Roy shot himself following his long struggle with bone cancer, doctors said it is common for patients battling chronic ailments to be depressed.

Himanshu Roy shot himself at his home in Mumbai on Friday, May 11.(HT File Photo)

In his suicide note, Roy said he was depressed owing to his prolonged illness.

Dr Mary Muckaden, who heads the palliative care unit at Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH), Parel, said, “Depression is common among patients with terminal illnesses. Palliative care can offer relief to such patients.”

The World Health Organization defines palliative care as an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families through early identification, assessment and treatment of pain and other problems.

A study done by Dr Kumar Prabhash, professor, medical oncology, TMH, found 70% of 160 patients with advanced head and neck cancers had psychological stress, which is a sign of depression. “These psychological disturbances are common and can lead to adverse outcomes such as patients not taking treatment, not following up with doctors or causing self-harm,” Dr Prabhash said.

Dr Prasad Dandekar, head, radiation oncology, Sir HN Reliance Hospital, said many patients associate the diagnosis with pain and death. “Cancer treatment causes side effects such as hair loss hair and facial changes, limiting a patient’s social interaction. Cancer along with the financial strain affects the mental health of the patient.”

“With early intervention, the patient can be put on counselling and anti-depressants,” Dandekar said.