The rising number of suicide cases in Ponda taluka has caused alarm in various sections of society, including medical practitioners, police and educationists.
While the lack of counselling facilities at the taluka’s main medical centre, the Ponda Sub-District hospital, have come to the fore, activists as well as health and police officials have emphasised the need for proper counselling and greater public awareness to overcome suicidal tendencies.
According to rough estimates by officials, there have been 3 to 4 suicide cases each month since the past few years and the victims have been people from different sections of society: locals and migrants, young and old, rich and poor.
In a recent case, a youth had entered into a petty argument with his girlfriend and in frustration, took the drastic step of ending his life. In another incident, a businessman committed suicide and police suspected that he had been under severe stress due to some financial loss.
Last year, a woman committed suicide at Borim Bridge along with her two children, after being unable to bear the loss of her husband, who had earlier committed suicide.
“When a person thinks of such taking an extreme step due to stress, depression and frustration, timely counselling can save him/her from taking the drastic step of ending one’s like,” said Ponda Sub-district Hospital’s Health Officer Dr Pradeep Shinkre.
“According to me, suicide does not fall in any type of illness. Suicide takes place when any individual endures too much stress due to socio-economic reasons. But more importantly, suicidal tendencies can be controlled by effective counselling and timely intervention by family and close relatives,” Dr Shinkre added.
When asked if there were counselling facilities at the Sub-District Hospital, Dr Shinkre replied in the negative.
“However, I feel that the government and society should deliberate seriously on the issue and initiate adequate measures to prevent suicide cases,” he said.
Concerned about suicide cases in Ponda taluka, some NGOs and students had even performed a street drama to guide the young generation on the importance of life and to dispel notions of suicide.
The COOJ Mental Health Foundation in association with Carmel College (Nuvem), GOACAN and the Rotract Club of Ponda had conducted suicide-prevention awareness drives at many places in Ponda, including a main programme at the Ponda KTC bus stand.
Carmel College students presented a street play and had also distributed pamphlets to people, highlighting the importance of dispelling thoughts about suicide.
Dona Noronha of COOJ, Roland Martins of GOACAN, Nirmal Rebelo and Lona Fernandes had also addressed a public meeting at the Ponda bus stand.
“We had organised the programme in Ponda, as a number of suicide cases reported in newspapers are from Ponda. Many times, suicides have taken place due to petty reasons. Lives are precious and suicides can be prevented by proper and timely counselling,” said Roland Martins of GOACAN, who is also a member of COOJ Mental Health Foundation.
“The government should make an adequate provision in the budget to hire the services of councillors, so that such facilities can be offered to the people.”
“We have decided to conduct such programmes in all talukas in the State and we will also approach panchayats to adopt resolutions to create awareness in villages,” Martins added.
When contacted, Ponda PI C L Patil highlighted various conditions leading to suicidal tendencies.
“But suicides can be prevented with proper counselling. In fact, there should be less publicity in the media to the cause and nature of the suicide, as this information influences others to follow a similar approach,” PI Patil added.
