19/2/2007 -
India - Seminar on Suicide
(ANS – Mumbai: 19th February 2007) - It comes as a shock to know that 50% of High School students in India have entertained the idea of suicide at one time or another and more than 5% admit to trying it at least once! India holds the deplorable distinction of having the highest teen suicide rate in the world! Prafulta Psychological Services, a Don Bosco Organization, in collaboration with the Bombay Psychiatric Society (BPS) and the Indian Psychiatric Society ( IPS - West Zone), organized a full day seminar entitled “Suicide – the final frontier!” at the P.D. Hinduja National Hospital Auditorium, Mumbai, on February 17. The main focus was ‘Suicide among teens’, its triggering and other causes that bring on suicide, signs and symptoms to watch out for, addictions that lead to suicide, women and suicide, medication, counselling aspects and Helplines that one could make use of to save every single life which is precious. What came out all too forcefully is that Suicide is the only psychiatric disorder that can be prevented if we are able to pick up the signs and symptoms and render appropriate help. It is indeed extremely disconcerting that a youngster who has hardly begun to live his life decides to put an end to it mainly because he feels that the pain of continuing to live is too much and he does not have the resources to cope with the pain. Principals, Counsellors, and Doctors who attended the Seminar posed a number of questions and received clarifications on various aspects concerning suicide. It became clearer that because of breakdown in many family set ups, educational institutions must shoulder greater responsibility in catering to the emotional needs of children and youth.
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