The moment people get the news that someone
they know has committed suicide, most often than not, they are taken by
complete surprise as they would have never expected such a step from that
person. While countless people battle depression, it mostly goes unnoticed;
even their loved ones fail to see the turmoil behind the healthy body and
hearty smile. And in an instant, everything changes.
Fr Saturnino Dias, Director of Diocesan
Centre for Missionary Animation, is constantly counselling individuals through
the suicide prevention helpline ‘God Saves Life-line (GSL)’. Launched in May
last year, the helpline is available to the general public 24 hours, 7 days a
week on the number 2284433. “Individuals from different age groups and varied
backgrounds contact the helpline either through the centre or the internet.
There are different causes for them to contemplate suicide like feeling
unwanted, quarrels in the family, turmoil in marital life and even students who
don’t see meaning in their lives. Frustration is a big issue that is emerging
as most children are spoiled by their parents and their level of bearing
frustration and stress is very low. They have no patience to deal with a
situation.” says Fr Saturnino.
To counsel a person, he starts by breaking
the ice and trying to build their confidence in him. “I speak to them calmly so
they don’t feel threatened and their mindset is out of danger. The helpline is
open to all religions and regions and we continue with the call till we feel
the person is away from taking the final step,” says Fr Saturnino, who attended
a call from North East India for over an hour. His message for those who
contemplate suicide is “Life is worth living and there are many surprises in
life.”
Childline North Goa coordinator Suzanne de
Souza informs that they receive calls from children below the age of 18 who
have contemplated suicide and they provide counselling to the child in person.
“We rush to the spot if the child tells us where they are, to counsel them.
Mostly, children find it difficult to cope with parental relationship,
alcoholic fathers or conflicts in the family. Many students are not able to
study and youngsters are also affected by their boyfriend-girlfriend relations.
When a child calls the helpline, we ask them their name and where they are
from, which is confidential information,” says Suzanne. The national Childline
helpline is 1098 and is open throughout the day and the calls from outside Goa
are diverted to Goa.
COOJ Mental Health Foundation celebrated a
month long program in Ponda, called ‘Yellow Ponda’, to create awareness. Donna
Noronha, Foundation member of COOJ Mental Health Foundation, informs, “Once we
create awareness about suicide prevention, the helpline calls increase. This is
a good sign as it shows that people are seeking help. Depression is a medical
issue and people are now going to clinics to talk to doctors about it on their
own. We recently had organised a panel discussion on a local channel which was
well received. A student who was bullied even went up to the counsellor in the
school to share his problem after watching the show.”
The number of cases in Goa are still high
and it is even more heartbreaking for the family who are coping with their
loss. COOJ has now taken the initiative to visit the District Hospital in
Mapusa whenever they hear about a suicide attempt. “We have already started
with the initiative, speaking to victims as well as their family. We want to
build a support group for these families. Currently, our helpline 2252525 is
open from 3pm to 7pm, but we want to have it for longer duration and if the
government gives their support, we will be able to hire more counsellors to
decrease the number of suicides in the state,” adds Donna. COOJ organised a
flash mob in the Panjim Municipal Market to spread the message of suicide
prevention.
Box
While India’s national average is 11.7
suicides per one lakh of the population, the suicide rate in Goa is 18.4 per
across the same numbers. In recent years official statistics have revealed that
of the 887 people who committed suicide over the last couple of years, 338
people did so either because of mental illnesses, frustration and depression.
These statistics mean that on an average, the State witnessed more than five
suicides a week. 5.61 persons committed suicide every week amounting to 877
over a
three year period.
