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    Suicide Prevention and Awareness Program (Webinar)

    At the very outset, I would like to thank Spandana Eda International Foundation, Dr. EDA Samuel Reddy the organizer of the webinar on a very important topic – ‘Suicide Prevention and Awareness.’ I would also like to express my gratitude to the guests who are attending this important online seminar.
    I believe the inferences coming from various thought leaders and intellectuals taking part in the webinar will be of immense use in the prevention of suicidal tendencies in our society. It will also give a boost to the ‘Fit India’ initiative, which strives to create a healthy populace in the country.
    We all would like to admit that growing materialism, diminishing social values, weakening of joint family culture, inadequate family and social communication, missing bonhomie, marital discords, dowry issues, financial distress and health issues are acting as catalysts to trigger suicidal tendencies among our people.

    It is time to move forward with patience and positivity. There is definitely a solution to every problem in life. We need to understand that suicide is a final outcome of complex interaction of biological, psychological, sociological and environmental factors.
    Developed or non-developed, all countries in the world are struggling with menace of suicide. India and China account for around 50 per cent of the world suicide cases. Globally, one person commits suicide every 40 seconds in the world. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of the death. As per an estimate, 10.5 people per one lakh population committed suicide in 2020 in India.

    Needless to say that there is a need for balanced living to effectively deal with the problem of suicide. Let us promote yoga, more and more physical activities, encourage family and social dialogue, and bridge the gaps through dialogue among us. It will help us keep negative thoughts under check, which are a major cause of suicide in our society.
    A number of measures have also been initiated by the Central and the State governments to check suicidal tendencies among our people. We have suicide prevention helpline. There is a National Mental Health Policy. Counselling centres are operational across the country.
    Drug addiction has emerged as a major trigger for suicidal tendencies among youths. A drug addict is not only physically weak but is also mentally ill, who gets disturbed in every way and slips into suicidal mode in due course.

    I am happy to share that a number of drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centres working round the clock in different parts of the country help the drug addicts. The Government of Haryana made special arrangements for counselling for the pandemic hit people.
    It is heartening indeed that Spandana Eda International Foundation has focused on spreading awareness about the vital issue of suicide. We need to have more and more such events to prevent suicides.
    Spandana Eda International Foundation is born out of pain on 28th January, 2020, when the Founder of that Foundation – Dr. Samuel Reddy lost his only daughter, MBA Graduate who committed suicide due to love failure. Now, the founder plans to save youth & guide them from unnecessary distractions in the young minds to commit suicides by conducting sessions “Suicide Prevention Programmes”.
    I came to know that in a span of 19 months, this foundation saved nearly 100 lives who were planning to commit suicide which is appreciable.

    It is our collective responsibility to free our society from the burden of suicides. The government agencies, NGOs, social and religious organizations should work together to create awareness among people against suicides and drug abuse.

    It will be of great help to involve youths in creating a drug and suicide free society. We are also living in the age of social media, which can be leveraged to tackle the challenge of suicide and drug addiction.
    People can also be made mentally strong by promoting spirituality. The habit of reading holy books and good literature can also do wonders. Three days back on August 3, I got an opportunity to participate in a program on ‘Bhagvad Gita’ at Raj Bhavan. The Gita is a way of life, which we must read.
    I am confident the audience will have many takeaways from today’s deliberations, and will go a long way in helping us to eradicate the problem of suicide from our society. Thank You.
    Jai Hind!

    • Author : Shri Bandaru Dattatraya
    • Subject : Suicide Prevention and Awareness Program (Webinar)
    • Language : English
    • Year : 2021