Several helpline numbers have been started in the State to aid youths to combat their fear, depression, peer pressure and other issues. But most of these helpline numbers started few years back at major centres are not functional and have failed to provide assistance to the youths in need.
Telephone helpline can render effective counseling service not only for crisis intervention and suicide prevention but also for special groups like adolescents and teenagers to deal with several vital issues with they face at specific age.
A 24 hour telephone helpline was started at Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP) in May 2001. 1800-345-1849 is a 24 hour toll free helpline at CIP. Suicide helpline, a 24 hour helpline, at CIP provides specialist telephone counseling and information to any one affected by suicidal thoughts. The details of such people are kept confidential by the councillors.
likewise, on the verge of CIP, the state-owned premier Ranchi Institute of Neuro-psychiatry and Allied Sciences (RINPAS) has also launched a helpline for the mentally distressed in the year 2011.Though the toll-free number 0651-2451058 is functional but it does not provide service on regular basis.
“We have toll free numbers to deal with the cases of suicides and others. We do receive calls from people of all age groups from various districts on several issues but unfortunately we are unable to provide services on all working days as we lack trained personnel and councilors,” informed RINPAS Director, Jayati Simlai.
Similarly, toll free helpline number started few years back at CIP is functional but there are no experts or councillors to attend the phone call. Often people complain, about it.
“I have tried to contact on the toll free numbers but nobody responds. This is not the first time when this happened, since past few months I have been constantly trying to contact the councillors at CIP helpline number. All their claims to provide 24x7 services are useless. Though the helpline numbers provide guidance on several issues rising from depression to peer pressure but if it is not providing service to people it is useless,” said an aspirant of IIT-JEE, who wants to consult an expert to combat depression.
There are several symptoms which leads person to commit suicide. “Suicidal thoughts can happen when feelings of hopelessness, isolation and despair become too heavy for an individual to bear. Several factors are involved in this. People preparing for any specific examination, peer pressure, wrecked relationships affects individuals specially adolescents and teenagers at any stage.
Contacting a mental health professional can help an individual to combat with cases of suicide tendencies,” said neuropsychiatric of RINPAS, Dr. Surjit Prasad.