Timely remedial steps stressed to check suicide incidents
Source: Chronicle News Service

Senapati, September 10 2021: Joining the rest of the world, District Mental Health Programme (DMHP), District Health Society, Senapati observed "World Suicide Prevention Day, 2021" under the theme "Creating Hope through Action" at CMO Conference Hall, Senapati.

DLOs, MO in-charge of all the PHCs, CHOs and ASHA facilitators were the participants of the event.

In his keynote address, Dr Ngouniba Peter, district nodal officer DMHP Senapati, stated that suicide cases account for deaths of more than 7 lakh people every year in the world and said that there are also many unreported local cases.

While stating that causes of suicide are multi-dimensional and multi-factorial and it more prevalent in the middle or low income countries compared to other developed countries, he stressed that everyone has a responsibility to prevent suicide as it is preventable.

World Suicide Prevention Day is a call to all towards action to prevent suicide cases in our society, Dr Ngouniba added.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Pfokreho Pfoze, CMO/director District Health Society, expressed concern that suicide has become a public health problem unlike earlier days, citing the WHO report that when a person dies from suicide, another 20 people have the same tendency to take the extreme step.

He then said that less inter-personal relationship and stressful work are some of the causes leading to depression and suicide.

A person cannot have a good health unless one has a good mental health, and that every individual has a huge role to play to prevent suicide, be it at homes, localities, churches or work space, Dr Pfokreho maintained.

On suicide prevention, Paveine Paulina Y, clinical psychologist DMHP Senapati, spoke in detail about the causes Of suicide, clarified myths and misconception of suicide by facts, made aware the warning signs and what an individual could do as a first-aid intervention when dealing with a suicidal person and the long term intervention.

To facilitate involved participation by the attendees, she also referred to case vignette and used video clippings for comprehensive discussion, shared the WHO guidelines of media reporting on suicide and emphasised on the etiquettes to follow while discussing about suicide on social media like not to circulate explicit pictures, not to expose suicide notes, not over-report in a sensationalised manner, not to write the details of the nature and place of suicide, to provide helpline numbers, etc.

The participants were extended a collaborative approach to work together to promote mental health.

The programme ended with a vote of thanks from RK Elizabeth, district programme manager DHS, Senapati.

Posters of awareness on mental health promotion were distributed to all the participants to be put up in their respective PHCs, HWCs and village community centres.

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