To be or not to be? It’s not just a question for Hamlet. William Shakespeare’s most famous line of all is considering the fine line between life and death – and about 400 years by the road, it is a question that Pakistani Drama’s characters also find themselves fighting with.

Faithful drama viewers will, of course, be aware that when it comes to the distressed drama character, unlike Hamlet, it is far less likely that a random uncle will get around. Rather, it’s itself. Be it a woman who was despised, or a man asked, drama figures are far too eager to entertain the notion of sniffing out. Sometimes they succeed. At other times, their attempts at self -damaging are averted, and in their course they quickly repair their evil ways to avoid this happening again. Whatever the case, with a hint of a trigger warning, crisis times come on television, suicide is too eager to breed his ugly head – and this relaxed glorification of taking one’s life is the Tøffiest of all slopes.

Things that kill

Let’s get one thing out of the way first: When it comes to Pakistani TV screens and things that kill, warnings certainly trigger. If they did not already know it already, some drama buffer will now be aware that smoking is killing because that is what we are being informed every time a character toy with a cigarette.

We don’t have to look further than Adeel in Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum. Each time this troubled Philanderer took a soothing feature in times of stress, a severe trigger warning immediately became the ticker wallpaper over the bottom of the screen. And say what you want about Pakistani dramas compared to their western colleagues but gangster lovers among you will be aware that Cillian Murphy’s Tommy Shelby I Peaky blinders came without such advisory measures. Of course, there is the very real case that Tommy is far, far more devoted to his cigarettes than adeels are. Tommy smokes as if cigarettes bind him to life. Had a warning been imposed by the law, it would have more or less shared permanent screen space with Tommy, which would undoubtedly have annoyed fans who prefer to read subtitles instead of warnings. When it comes to cigarettes, it seems that the Pakistani Showbiz industry has been covered. A cross mark for Adeel, a big big thumb down for Tommy.

But as we know, smoking is not the only deadly behavior bound on Pakistani screens. You can argue that taking one’s life has a higher death rate than smoking, especially when it is so temptingly easy to trigger someone who is already vulnerable and is an avid TV guard to start. With or without trigger warnings, the wisdom of presenting it as a solution is questionable.

Acceptance of suicide

Unfortunately, for anyone who appreciates the importance of robust mental health, suicide is a popular go-to solution for characters in shows seen by millions. Case: Jafaa. Here is a show that has been (rightly) praised to discuss taboo questions such as birth control, anger handling and seeking therapy. But a few episodes down the line we testify to the young mother Andleeb, who actively considering suicide – twice – without getting the advice she needs. What message sends this? Where is the warning for someone who sees this with children nearby? Or for a viewer who has struggled with suicidal thoughts and finds itself irrevocably triggered?

It can be border -understandable if relaxed suicide was the power of just a show, but of course it is not just Andleeb in Jafaa. Back in 2011, Humsafar – A show that even a purposeful drama hater will know about – contained a woman who turns to suicide when she felt she had lost her husband. Meanwhile, earlier this year, Murad whips, Noor Jahan’s son in the generation-trauma drama noor Jahan, a gun in times of despair and announces his wife Noor Bano, whom he intends to shoot himself.

We do not see the immediate demand for this cliffhanger, but we are given enough information to deduce that Noor Bano is doing some injury management and Murad is withdrawing his gun without anyone being killed. The subtitle could not be common: When you threaten to kill yourself, you may not like consequences, but you will be able to owe people to take you seriously. This was an episode that has received up to 12 million views on YouTube alone. Repeated exposure breeds acceptance. Is this message-to a suicide attempt is a cure-all-something to be shown so open to millions?

A dangerous pastime

A therapist specializing in the advice of Muslim women discussed this particular trope with Express Pakinomist on condition of anonymity. She is convinced that such a relaxed portrayal of self -damages poses a threat to society as a whole.

“What they are doing is dangerous and irresponsible,” she maintains. “Studies have shown that even seeing the word ‘suicide’ leads to an increase in suicide attempts. We should use terms such as ‘taking your life’. I don’t think they’ve investigated how suicide actually happens.”

When even the word itself can prove to be a trigger point, what kind of branches will see such a desperate last resort spray on a screen has on someone already in danger? Seam BismilA drama currently released shows that the consequences have the potential to spiral out of control, especially for viewers where therapy is not an option they can freely consider.

“I started looking at Bismil Because I am reviewing the same, “confusing a viewer.” I wanted to see how Moosa would cope with her father’s second marriage. I’ve been triggered ever since I saw them showing his suicide. I can’t go to a therapist and I’m definitely crushed. “

In a landscape where access to counseling is limited and mental health is still considered taboo, is the TV self-damaged really the answer? Despite all the examples, suicide is still not as common a suit on Pakistani screens as it is in Bollywood or Hollywood. And as the argument goes, a drama will reflect the world and luggage that comes with it. But with a budding audience when the world begins to mirror that drama right back, who will be held responsible for a life tilted over the edge when it could have been saved?

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