ANTARA BOSE
Jamshedpur, Sept 10: Jamshedpur-based social organisation, Jeevan, affiliated to Befrienders India observed the World Suicide Prevention Day at the auditorium of Narbheram Hansraj English School in Bistupur on Saturday.
Managing director of Jamipol P. S. Reddy was the chief guest at the programme along with Hari Singh Rajput, a social worker as the guest of honour and psychiatrist Dr. Deepak Giri as the guest speaker. The programme was observed with a series of lectures, award functions for student competition already held and a short cultural programme.
Director of Jeevan, Jeoraj Jain put forth the suicide data of Jamshedpur. As per the collected data of the last three years, he said that 2019 witnessed the minimum number of suicides in the city with 177 life losses. This figure rose up to 258 in 2020 due to the pandemic. In 2021, Jamshedpur witnessed 255 suicides while there have been 128 suicides in 2022 (till August) so far.
Jeevan has been playing a befriender’s role for people and students in need addressing the problem of depression, stress and emotional issues in the city.
The organisation had organised inter school competitions in extempore, sit and draw and medley contests for which the prize distribution was organised in the function today.
“The awareness is more needed among patients of mental health. Every suicide has 20 attempts and a number of suicidal thoughts,” said Dr. Giri in his address.
Dr. Giri spoke primarily about stigma, a set of negative attitudes and beliefs about mental illness and how the film, television industry and society has branded it in a particular way. He spoke about the types of stigma and what should be done to combat the same.
Dr. Giri also spoke about how mental illness is completely curable. Other guests spoke about the need of more awareness and how each and one in society can help each other to combat mental illness.
