Suicide is the leading cause of death in the 15-39 years age group in India, according to a joint study of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and other institutes in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The World Health Organisation states that one person dies due to suicide every 40 seconds. For every suicide there are many more people who attempt suicide every year, says a WHO report.
Suicides are preventable. The WHO suggests a number of measures to prevent suicides including reducing access to the means of suicide, early identification and treatment of people with mental issues, and follow-up care for people who attempted suicide, among others.
Suicide prevention helplines and counselling help a great deal in preventing suicides. State governments such as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha use medical helpline 104 to counsel people with mental or physiological disorders.
Those in distress or having suicidal tendencies could seek help and counselling by calling any of the following numbers:
iCALL
91529 87821
TelanganaRoshni – 040-6620 2000Andhra Pradesh
1Life – 78930-78930; 100
GGH-Kakinada – 98499-03870.
KarnatakaArogya Sahayavani – 104Tamil Nadu
Sneha – 044- 24640050
State’s health helpline – 104
Kerala
DISHA – 1056, 0471-2552056
State’s health helpline 104
Maithri – 0484-2540530
Thanal Suicide Prevention Centre – 0495-2760000
DelhiSanjivini, Society for Mental Health – 011-4076 9002, Monday-Saturday, 10 am -7.30 pmMumbai
BMC Mental Health Helpline: 022-24131212 (24×7)
Vandrevala Foundation: 18602662345/18002333330 (24×7)
I Call – 022-25521111 (Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.)
ASRA – 022 2754 6669 (24×7)
The Samaritans Mumbai: 8422984528/842984529/8422984530 ( 5 p.m. -8 p.m., all days)
BengaluruSahai – 080-25497777, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.KochiMaitri — 0484-2540530, Chaithram — 04842361161KolkataLifeline Foundation — 91639 40404, 90880 30303
Published – November 28, 2018 12:05 pm IST
