After 'sensational news cycle' has moved on from Anna Sebastian's death, her parents talk about who she was outside Ernst & Young, her dreams and aspirations, and how they are coping with the trauma.
Published Sep 23, 2024 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 23, 2024 | 3:43 PM
Anna Sebastian, who died from cardiac arrest while working at Ernst & Young
Sibi Joseph, father of Anna Sebastian Perayil, was at the hospital with his wife, Anita Augustine, when viral discussions erupted on social media platforms LinkedIn and X about Anita’s letter to Ernst & Young India’s Chairman, Rajiv Memani.
Unaware of the storm brewing online, Sibi remained focused on Anita’s health. When South First initially contacted Sibi, he was at the hospital with his wife. He said, “She fell sick last night. We’re at the Medical Centre Hospital, and my wife still hasn’t recovered from the trauma.”
The next day, however, ‘sensational journalism’ approached Sibi, pressuring him to speak. From that moment, Anna’s parents were thrust into the media spotlight, repeatedly asked to relive the painful details of their daughter’s ordeal and her eventual death. Constant media attention forced them to revisit their traumatic experiences again and again.
After the media frenzy cooled down, Sibi and Anita reached out to South First—not to speak of the tragedy, but to share Anna’s dreams, her struggles, and how brilliant she was.
Anna’s photo at the Perayil House on Navodaya Road in Kochi.
“We think about you always. We talk about you still. You have never been forgotten, and you never will be. We hold you close within our hearts, and you will remain there to walk and guide us through our lives until we meet again.”
This is the inscription on a candle beside Anna’s photo at Perayil House on Navodaya Road in Kochi, a heartfelt tribute that expresses how deeply loved she was by her parents.
Anna Sebastian, a 26 year old Chartered Accountant who worked as an audit and assurance executive at EY, returned to her paying guest (PG) accommodation in Pune on 20 July after work, feeling unwell. By 1 am, unable to endure the severe pain, she confided in her roommate. Concerned for Anna’s health, her friend called her mother, Anita Augustine, who urged that Anna be taken to the hospital.
By the time help arrived, Anna had collapsed. Her dentist friend attempted to revive her with CPR and called an ambulance. Tragically, it did not help Anna Sebastian, who suffered a cardiac arrest en route to the hospital and died.
“Anna’s health started deteriorating after she joined EY due to the stress of her job,” said Sibi Joseph to South First.
“Back in school, she was on the badminton team and loved kayaking. Whenever she came home, she would join me for early morning jogs. She was such a health enthusiast back then. But her job disrupted her routine—she wasn’t eating or sleeping properly. We urged her several times to quit. She had even promised to come home in the first week of August to celebrate her birthday with us and discuss leaving her position at EY in Pune” he recalled.
To understand what led to Anna Sebastian’s death, South First spoke to Dr Jasmine MJ, a psychiatrist at the Mental Health Action Trust in Kerala.
Is it a psychological issue? “I don’t want to categorise this incident as a psychological issue. Every situation arises from personal choices. We can’t say that stress is confined to the corporate sector; it exists everywhere. It’s easy to question why someone doesn’t just quit their job, but we can’t know what’s happening in their minds.”
She added, “The decision to stay or leave a workplace is entirely personal. Anna’s case is very sensitive, and I prefer not to reduce it to a simple psychological perspective.”
Anita Augustine shared with South First the story of her daughter Anna’s remarkable achievements, all earned through sheer hard work. “Anna was incredibly ambitious,” she recalled.
“She wasn’t just a bookworm, she was active in extracurricular activities and was passionate about sports. An outstanding student, Anna consistently ranked at the top in both school and college, and she cleared her CA exams with distinction. It’s still hard to believe that my healthy child became ill within just four months of joining EY. The company showed little concern for its employees. Anna had previously raised concerns with her assistant manager about the excessive shifts and stress, but they still pushed her to work even at night. My daughter was brilliant, but her dedication to EY made it hard for her to say no to assignments.” Anita said.
Anna’s mother also shared that her daughter had applied to take 15 days of leave after the auditing project was wrapped up. Although she had initially requested to come home sooner, she opted to wait until the project’s conclusion, explaining that leaving midway would pose challenges for her team.
Dr. Sreevidya Sreekumar, who works on managing stress and depression at Spandana Super Target Homoeopathic Clinic in Kottayam, told South First that being a workaholic can go both ways.
’”If individuals stay healthy by exercising, avoiding junk food, and fostering healthy relationships and social connections, their workaholism can somehow be seen in a positive light and being ambitious to succeed. However, if achievements in one’s career comes at the cost of their health, relationships, and personal well-being, it will lead to significant health issues – both physical and mental.”
Explaining what symptoms to look for to know if your loved one is mentally unwell, she said, “When someone is dealing with mental health issues like depression, it is natural for them to try to distract themselves by working more. It’s crucial for family and friends to recognise these signs and intervene, providing support through counseling and encouraging physical check-ups.’’
Sreevidya emphasised the necessity of establishing immediate help desks within corporate environments, where employees can access mental and physical support whenever they need it.
On 21 September, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) sought a comprehensive report from the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment in light of the tragic death of Anna Sebastian. The NHRC took suo motu cognizance of the incident, expressing deep concern about the difficulties young professionals face in demanding work environments.
The commission emphasised the urgent need to address mental health issues, including stress and anxiety, as well as the negative impact of excessive work hours on employees’ well-being. Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya confirmed that an investigation is currently underway to examine the circumstances surrounding Anna Sebastian’s death.
After the important move by the NHRC, South First reached out to P Sathidevi, Chair of the Kerala Women’s Commission and former MP. She shared insights about the Commission’s upcoming initiatives in the corporate sector.
Sathidevi emphasised, “The absence of the POSH Act in our workplaces (both organised and unorganised sectors) impact women in various ways. The committees mandated by the POSH Act could significantly improve workplace environments, if they are functioning efficiently.” She mentioned that they have submitted a comprehensive report to the Kerala government on this issue.
‘’Additionally, the Kerala Women’s Commission has been conducting public hearings for the past two years to identify toxic workplace environments. These hearings have already taken place for women employees in KSRTC, the construction sector, and lottery sales. The highest levels of exploitation occur in the unaided school sector, where teachers face immense stress and financial challenges, often receiving inadequate salaries. A detailed report addressing these issues has also been submitted to the government.
In the future, the Commission plans to host an exclusive program for the IT sector in November, encouraging women to voice their workplace concerns.’’ she said.
Meanwhile, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman kicked up a fresh controversy even as this article was being published. Speaking at a private college event in Chennai, she made ableist comments about being able to cope with challenges.
She stated, “Learning to manage stress should begin at home. It’s essential to cultivate inner strength to cope with challenges. One can only face these pressures by relying on God.”
When it is already difficult to get people to understand the importance of mental health and creating awareness about it, statements like this only adds to the misconceived notions one has about mental health, taking us several steps backwards in creating awareness.
(Edited by Neena)
