Timely Sharjah initiative saves Kerala teacher after suicide email

Timely Sharjah initiative saves Kerala teacher after suicide email

Mangalore Today News Network

Sharjah, Aug 6, 2025: A timely intervention by the Indian Association Sharjah (IAS) has helped save the life of an Indian woman – a teacher from Kerala who was on the brink of taking her own life.

The case is being undertaken by the association as part of R.I.S.E. – a family dispute redressal initiative launched on August 2 following the two suicides of Kerala woman – Athulya and Vipanchika last month. The new platform is functioning in coordination with the Sharjah Police’s Community Preventive and Protection Department and the Consulate General of India in Dubai.

Email to police saves her

According to Youseph Sagheer K.S., a veteran IAS committee member and key figure behind R.I.S.E., the case came to light after the woman sent a distress email to the Sharjah Police, stating her intent to end her life. The police immediately referred the case to IAS.

“This happened just days after Athulya’s death. We invited her and summoned her husband. She was visibly depressed. We spent hours speaking to them – first separately, and then together,” Sagheer said.

Family in crisis

The woman was battling emotional isolation and marital breakdown. Her husband was insisting on a divorce, while she was unwilling to separate. Their 22-year-old son is currently living in Kerala. According to Sagheer, the father showered the son with expensive gifts and ensured he stayed distant from his mother – a factor that deeply affected her.

“She felt abandoned. Her only child was her lifeline, but he had cut ties with her,” Sagheer noted. “Additionally, the woman’s mother is blind, and her father is battling cancer. She saw no purpose left in life, which led to her decision to attempt suicide.”

Support and hope

IAS counsellors persuaded the woman to give herself three months before making any drastic decisions. “We assured her we would reach out to her son and help rebuild their bond. It was only after we brought a smile back to her face that we felt relieved. She left with a glimmer of hope.”

Positive follow-up

In a follow-up session, Sagheer said the woman looked “happy and contented.”
While she has agreed to live separately from her husband, she remains firm against divorce – seeking emotional closure and social security instead.

“This case is a clear example of how timely psychological support and empathy can save lives,” Sagheer noted. “I am sure if we hadn’t intervened, we would have lost her.”

How to get help

The intervention forms part of IAS initiative, launched after two suicides rocked the Indian expat community in Sharjah, to offer counselling and support to distressed individuals.

How to contact: Individuals in distress may contact the association via email at communitysupport@iassharjah.com or call the IAS office at 06-5610845.
Session timing: Every Saturday from 10 am to 12 pm for registered applicants.