AASRA in The Times Of India

‪#‎aasradotinfo‬ ‪#‎aasraSuicidePrevention24x7Helpline912227546669‬ ‪#‎BefriendersWorldwide‬ ‪#‎SamaritansUK‬ ‪#‎IASP‬ ‪#‎UN‬ ‪#‎WHO‬ ‪#‎AFSP‬ ‪#‎INFOTES‬ ‪#‎LifelineInternational‬ ‪#‎Google‬ ‪#‎Facebook‬ AASRA in The Times Of India http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31808&articlexml=PROGRESSIVE-STEP-Defanging-suicide-attempt-law-brings-new-12082016017024 Aug 12 2016 : The Times of India (Delhi) PROGRESSIVE STEP - Defanging suicide-attempt law brings new hope to life TIMES NEWS NETWORK   Prevention Is Key After Changes In Colonial Hand-Me-Down Sec 309 At long last, India has joined liberal democracies by mov ing to decriminalise suicide.The Mental Health Bill passed by the RS gets around Section 309 of the IPC that makes attempting suicide a criminal offence. This law, which essentially says that a person in extreme distress either kills herself efficiently or face legal punishment, is a colonial hand-me-down. While most western nations struck it down after the French Revolution, and even England and Wales followed suit in 1961, former colonial territories such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Singapore persist with it. “Only 25 nations criminalise suicide now; most have realised that investment in mental health is more useful than prosecuting someone already tortured,“ says Dr Lakshmi Vijayakumar, founder of Chennai-based NGO Sneha and a consultant to WHO on suicide prevention. The law is no deterrent to suicide, say psychiatrists. Sri Lanka decriminalised suicide in 1998 and suicide levels dropped, possibly because of concerted suicide-prevention programmes. There are cultural underpinnings for our attitudes towards self-destruction. Unlike Abrahamic religions such as Christianity and Islam, dharmic traditions such as Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism don't have a sense that god has a claim on life. In Japan and India, suicides driven by honour and duty -seppuku and sati, for instance -were culturally endorsed. Suicide, some sug gest, can be driven by egoistic reasons, to make a point, for a social cause, because of loneliness, material deprivation, physical illness and other factors. “There's no one reason for suicide, it has always been a part of humanity ,“ says Johnson Thomas of Mumbai's Aasra suicide helpline. We need a suicide prevention programme, say experts. Suicide rates have soared globally and India has specific vulnerabilities -for instance, given the large number of suicides among housewives, marital status isn't a protection against suicide as it tends to be in the West. The WHO, seeing suicide as a preventable public health problem, has tried to analyse national risk factors. In India, criminalisation of suicide has meant substantial under-reporting, says Vijayakumar, making it difficult to identify at-risk groups or provide support. A 2002 Sneha study found that suicide was prevalent among students who failed in one subject. The Tamil Nadu government softened its policy allowing them to retake the exam without losing a year. “Suicides halved in the next decade,“ says Vijayakumar. Early identification of vulnerable individuals, and adequate mental health workers are crucial to avert suicide. This is where India has a problem.“There's a stigma around seeking professional help for mental illness,“ says Thomas. There's a deficit of mental health professionals and infrastructure, with only 0.3 psychiatrists per 100,000 people. The Mental Health Bill acknowledges the lack of resources, but “the government must put its money where its mouth is,“ says Thomas. Click To Enlarge

Light A Candle at 8 pm Sept 10th World Suicide Prevention Day 2024 To Show your Support

#WorldSuicidePreventionDay #aasra #aasradotinfo #aasra24x7HelplineForDepressedSuicidal919820466726
Start the conversation today. Every chat, no matter how small, builds a more supportive and understanding society. Together, we can make a difference and prioritise suicide prevention, ensuring everyone gets the help they need. #WorldSuicidePreventionDay
Changing the narrative on suicide requires systemic change. It's about shifting from a culture of silence and stigma to one of openness, understanding, and support. #WorldSuicidePreventionDay
At 8PM on #WSPD, join me in lighting a candle to show your support for suicide prevention, to remember a loved one & for the survivors of suicide. Suicide can affect every one of us. By raising awareness, reducing the stigma & encouraging action we can help to reduce the instances of suicide around the world. #WSPD2024 #BefriendersWorldwide #IASP

Sept 10th World Suicide Prevention Day

#WSPD2024 Sept 10th World Suicide Prevention Day 2024 As we approach World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th, we want to take a moment to acknowledge the importance of open and honest discussions about suicide and suicidal behaviour. By initiating these vital conversations, we can break down barriers, raise awareness, and create better cultures of understanding and support.

Start the conversation today. Every chat, no matter how small, builds a more supportive and understanding society. Together, we can make a difference and prioritise suicide prevention, ensuring everyone gets the help they need. #WorldSuicidePreventionDay #aasra #aasradotinfo #aasra24x7HelplineForDepressedSuicidal919820466726

Artistic Creativity and Mental Health An Asia Society Talk by Dr David Goldbloom at NGMA Mumbai

#AASRA24X7HELPLINEFORDEPRESSEDSUICIDAL919820466726 #aasradotinfo #AASRA ‘#ArtisticCreativityAndMentalHealth’, with #DrDavidGoldbloom, which was hosted in #Mumbai last Friday. Dr. Goldbloom’s lecture was wonderful and illuminating – he compellingly broke down the age-old stereotype of the “mad” creative genius, demonstrating through research and data how the relationship between creativity and mental health is nuanced and complex. #AsiaSociety #NGMA #RaisaGodrejFoundation #PherozaGodrej #mehlimehtafoundation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4asqo2Sv7Lk

Happy New Year 2024

Aasra completes 25 years of Helping People in Despair

Celebrating 25 years of Helping People in Despair, Depression, and those having Suicidal ideation. Thanks to all the volunteers, past and present for their selfless service, over the years, to keep the service running without interruption through thick and thin... #AASRA24X7HELPLINEFORDEPRESSEDSUICIDAL919820466726 #aasradotinfo #AASRA #WorldSuicidePreventionDay #WorldSuicidePreventionWeek #BeTheLight #CreateHopeWithAction #WHO #everyone #everbody @everyone @everybody #IASP

World Suicide Prevention Day 2023

#BeTheLight #WSPD2023 #WorldSuicidePreventionDay #IASP #AASRA24X7HELPLINEFORDEPRESSEDSUICIDAL919820466726 #aasradotinfo #AASRA #WHO https://youtu.be/_l6Yai4SjiI

An estimated 703,000 people a year take their life around the world. To prevent suicide requires us to become a beacon of light to those in pain. You can #BeTheLight. At 8PM on #WSPD, join me in lighting a candle to show your support for suicide prevention, to remember a loved one & for the survivors of suicide. This #WorldSuicidePreventionDay you can #BeTheLight by encouraging understanding, reaching in and sharing your experiences. Suicide can affect every one of us. By raising awareness, reducing the stigma & encouraging action we can help to reduce the instances of suicide around the world. #WSPD2023 #CreatingHopeThroughAction is a reminder that there is an alternative to suicide. Our actions, no matter how big or small, may provide hope to those who are struggling.