World Suicide Prevention Day was observed in North Garo Hills and South West Khasi Hills districts today.
The programme, organised by the respective District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) aimed to spread awareness about suicide prevention, the importance of mental health awareness as well as that of community support in combating suicide.
In Resubelpara, Dr Rezia Sangma, District Nodal Officer of the DMHP, spoke on the theme ‘Changing the Narrative on Suicide’ with the call to action to ‘Start the Conversation’. Dr Sangma said the programme focused on supporting people who are struggling with mental health issues by encouraging them to create a culture of openness, thereby reducing stigma around suicide and help prevent suicide.
She also called upon the community to encourage people with suicidal issues to seek help.
Dr Sangma further highlighted the activity of DMHP and urged anyone with mental issues to avail assistance being provided by the programme.
Earlier, a cycle rally was held with A’we Pedallers Club Resubelpara participating to raise awareness about suicide prevention.
In Ranikor Civil Sub-Division, the programme was addressed by Dr. L. Dhar, Psychiatrist of Mawkyrwat Civil Hospital wherein she outlined the signs and symptoms of mental illness and urged people to offer support and assistance to anyone they know who may be struggling with mental health challenges. She emphasized that reporting such cases to the nearest Medical and Health Officer could be immensely helpful for those affected.
District Medical and Health Officer (DM&HO), Dr. F. R. Lartang emphasised on the theme and noted that suicide has long been associated with stigma, shame, and silence, and the theme calls for a reassessment of these attitudes, encouraging open, compassionate, and informed conversations about mental health and suicide.
He stressed the importance of education, spreading awareness, and building hope and resilience to replace silence and shame with compassion and active support for those who need it.
The Chief Judicial Magistrate cum Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority D. Sohtun, MJS, in her speech stated that as per section 226 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Samhita (BNS), whoever attempts to commit suicide with the intent to compel or restrain any public servant from discharging his official duty shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both, or with community service.
During the program, prizes were given to the winners of the drawing competition, held as part of the observation. The competition saw participation of students from several schools under Ranikor Civil Sub-Division.
Meanwhile, the Department of Psychiatry and the Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) Cell, NEIGRIHMS organised a poster competition for the nursing staff and the students of the institute to raise awareness on suicide prevention and also to destigmatize suicide.
In all, 45 participants took part in the event. Information on early signs about suicide; how people with suicidal ideation can be helped; how suicide can be prevented – seekinghelp; consulting mental health professionals; treating mental illness and so on – were succinctly depicted through posters. The
Kimberly Syiem, Clinical Psychologist of the Department of Psychiatry, NEIGRIHMS also participated in a discussion at Akashvani Shillong along with other mental health experts of Shillong city to help raise awareness on suicide prevention.
