City-based suicide prevention centre Jeevan has lined up series of activities to observe World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10. The centre is organsing filmmaking contest for the citizens. Based on the theme “Creating Hope Through Action”, participant have been asked to make one minute video spreading the message of mental health.    

Mahabir Ram, founder, Jeevan said that their centre is working hard to create awareness and stop the menace but still a lot needs to be done.

‘Creating Hope Through Action' is a reminder that there is an alternative to suicide and aims to inspire confidence and light in all of us that our actions, no matter how big or small, may provide hope to those who are struggling. Preventing suicide is often possible and you are a key player in its prevention,” he said.

He said that the need of the hour is to create a stress free environment for the students to learn and grow. Simultaneously the teachers and parents are also required to be empowered through training so that they are able to recognize the signals being sent by the students in stress and take appropriate follow up actions to help them to recover.

“Creating awareness among students and teachers on what is stress, why stress, what will happen if not controlled, and how to identify and deal with a stressed person. Most of the educational institutions in Jamshedpur are coming forward to organise an awareness campaign for their students, teachers and parents,Rs Rs  Ram noted.

“We have gained in our efforts to curb the rising cases of suicides. However changing life style of the city is leading people to commit suicide. While studying the suicide graph, we have found that people who are depressed have higher tendency to commit suicide. So there is an urgent need to understand the problem and address it,” said a senior functionary of Jeevan.