Software Woes

Recently read an article about the increasing trend of suicides and divorces in our Garden City, Bangalore.
The report mentions that of the 2,000 suicide cases reported in the city last year, 70 percent were by software professionals and call centre employees. And all of them were below 35 years of age. The counsellor who created the report says that "The unprecedented levels of opportunity and money have resulted in neglecting the importance of personal life,".

It also goes on to say that if the code-writers were not committing suicides, they were busy going through divorce proceedings. Sample this: In a single unit of 100 employees,nine divorce cases were filed over the last three months.

The councellor says that this trend is going to increase by 20% in the next future. And adds "Stress among the software professionals and its impact on their health and quality of life are a source of significant concern and need to be continually reviewed and addressed by all concerned".

Why do you think this is happenning ? Is it something that a software person should live with, because he is earning more, and leading a fast paced life ? Is it either you earn more and go through all these psychological trauma or live a docile life ?

Finally the counsellor says "Bangalore is a city where the speed of change is most rapid and the time has come to address these issues that are affecting individuals, families and communities of the city,". I think its upto the individual, he needs to find a way to bring balance in his life. For those things that are out of his/her control, he/she should seek help from his friends and family, which are in abundance in this part of the world.