Shillong/Nongpoh, Sep 10: World Suicide Prevention Day was observed throughout Meghalaya to raise awareness about one of the biggest causes of death on the planet.
In Nongpoh, the office of the District Medical and Health Officer held a programme to discuss measures to reduce suicide.
The day began with a public rally of school students, starting from MUDA Shopping Complex and concluding at the Parish Hall, Nongpoh. This was followed by an interactive session where discussions focused on different strategies and interventions to prevent suicide.
This year’s World Suicide Prevention Day was commemorated under the theme “Changing the Narrative on Suicide” with a collective call for action.
As part of the event, seven resource persons delivered talks on various preventive measures to address the issue of suicide. The speakers included Andrecia Mawiong, Assistant Professor, Shillong Medical College, Orville Massar from the police, SB Blah from the Education Department, Lamjingshai Peter Lyngdoh, a counsellor, and B Marak, a legal aid defence lawyer.
In Mawkyrwat, South West Khasi Hills, a panel discussion featured esteemed panelists, including Superintendent of Police B Jyrwa, lawyers, pastors, psychologists, et al.
The discussion was followed by an interactive session with participants, comprising youth, women and community leaders, allowing for an exchange of views, questions, and clarifications.
The event was organized by the DM&HP, South West Khasi Hills District, under the supervision of the District Medical & Health Officer (DM&HO), in collaboration with the Police Department, District Legal Services Authority, Jingiaseng Kynthei Mawkyrwat Presbytery, and Adolescent Friendly Health Clinic.
In East Jaintia Hills, a programme was held at Khliehriat West Community Hall that featured with an informative discussion on topics including risk factors that leads to suicide, causes which leads a person to have mental health issues, signs and symptoms of mental illness, causes which lead drug addicts to commit suicide, preventive measures, laws which protect mentally ill persons, etc.
A public rally was also held in localities of Khliehriat.
A two-day event was held in Ampati, South West Garo Hills. Today, a panel discussion, involving various stakeholders was chaired by Hema Nayak, Deputy Commissioner of South West Garo Hills, who emphasized the importance of raising awareness, reducing stigma, and promoting mental health initiatives to prevent suicide.
The discussion brought together government officials, mental health experts, educators, and community representatives who shared insights and strategies to create hope and encourage positive mental well-being among the community.
The programme was aimed at promoting dialogue, strengthen preventive measures, and highlight the role of collective action in tackling the issue of suicide at the local level.
Yesterday a rally was taken out from Springfield Secondary School, Ampati as part of the programme The rally, aimed at raising awareness on mental health issues, was joined by students from various schools in and around Ampati.
