Suicide is preventable, says expert

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru,  September 10, 2017: “Most suicides are preventable. When a person is contemplating suicide, if someone is there to change the victim’s mind, he or she can be prevented from taking the extreme step,” said Dr Lavina Noronha, Director of city based Ave Maria Palliative Care.

She was addressing the members of Rotary Club Mangaluru Sunrise during its regular meeting at Eden Club this morning. Speaking on the topic Suicide Prevention, she said suicide is often an emotional response to something that upsets the victim. “The decision to commit suicide starts with an idea or a death wish. Something upsets the victim to trigger this response and then it becomes a plan. Many people who have attempted suicide and survived have later said that it was a foolish act.”

Dr Lavina Noronha informed the audience that the tendency to commit suicide is sometimes a symptom of mental illness like depression or schizophrenia but not everyone who thinks of suicide or attempts suicide is mentally ill.  In most cases, it is a transient emotional reaction to an overwhelming life situation. “Mental illness is one of the side effects of development as it puts the people under lot of stress. This is the price we have to pay for development,” she said. “Kerala has the highest suicide rate in the entire country though it is educationally the most advanced state. Hence even education is not good if it is forced on the children or they are made to feel pressurized.” 

She revealed that along with a few likeminded people she was launching Susheg Charitable Trust to help people in distress. The trust is setting up a Suicide Lifeline, which will operate a 24x7 service to receive distress calls from persons who are suffering suicidal tendency. The calls will be received by persons who are trained in providing counseling and helping the victim to overcome the fatal urge. The organization has also trained 50 volunteers, she added. Suicide Lifeline will operate from second floor, Fortune Building, Falnir, Mangaluru.  
  
Dr. Animesh Jain, President of Rotary Club Mangalore Sunrise presided over the meeting. Club secretary Dr. Nagesh felicitated the members. Vandana rendered the invocation. Dr. Shivshankar preselected a memento to the guest speaker.