Father Dies After Plea for Insulin on Facebook Live

In a deeply distressing incident from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, a man named Shahzeb Shakeel reportedly ended his life after a tearful Facebook Live video in which he expressed overwhelming financial distress. His primary anguish, as he stated, stemmed from his inability to afford life-saving insulin for his diabetic daughter.

Emotional Livestream Before Suicide

According to reports, Shahzeb, a real estate businessman, recorded an emotional video just before taking his own life. During the livestream, he pleaded for help from celebrities, business leaders, and political figures including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He even requested financial assistance of ₹30 crore for the well-being of his family’s future.
He spoke of the crushing weight of his financial debts, which he said had run into crores of rupees. Despite his deep love for his wife, children, and other family members, he felt emotionally and financially cornered. Shahzeb ended the video by taking his life using a security guard’s firearm at his office premises.

A Father’s Desperation: Insulin and Affordability

One of the most heartbreaking aspects of this tragedy was Shahzeb’s struggle to provide insulin for his diabetic daughter. Insulin, a life-essential medication for those with Type 1 diabetes and some with Type 2, can be costly in India, especially for families with no financial safety net.
Diabetes requires lifelong management, and without insulin, patients particularly children are at serious risk of life-threatening complications. Shahzeb’s case highlights the devastating impact of unaffordable healthcare, particularly for chronic illnesses like diabetes.

Mental Health and Financial Stress

This incident also underlines the strong connection between financial instability and mental health deterioration. Shahzeb spoke about betrayal in business and ongoing economic losses, which left him feeling helpless. His story is not isolated. In recent months, there have been similar cases across Uttar Pradesh and other regions, where individuals under mounting financial debt have taken drastic steps.

In another case just days earlier, a bank recovery agent was found dead by suicide in the Ayodhyapuri area of Lucknow. He had been facing extreme professional pressure and financial strain, according to family reports.

India’s Growing Debt Crisis and Public Health Implications

These cases signal a concerning trend in India’s socio-economic landscape. Rising living costs, healthcare expenses, and financial mismanagement are pushing many into debt. For families managing chronic illnesses like diabetes, the financial load can become unbearable.
Public health experts and mental health advocates argue that without systemic changes such as better access to affordable medicines, mental health support, and financial counselling more such tragedies may occur.

Conclusion

The death of Shahzeb Shakeel is a painful reminder of the struggles many families silently endure. While his actions were extreme, the pain behind them speaks to systemic failures in healthcare access, mental health support, and financial protection.
Both public institutions and private stakeholders must work together to create a more supportive and inclusive system where no parent is ever pushed to such desperation over the cost of medicine for their child.

Source: Inputs from various media Sources

I’m a pharmacist with a strong background in health sciences. I hold a BSc from Delhi University and a pharmacy degree from PDM University. I write articles and daily health news while interviewing doctors to bring you the latest insights. In my free time, you’ll find me at the gym or lost in a sci-fi novel.