Nagpur: Suicide is one of the main causes of death that can be prevented in young adults and adolescents.
The number of people who surrendered to suicide had increased significantly during the Covid period.
Realizing the need for health professionals to deal with people who suffer from suicide trends, psychiatrists in this country have decided to start a unique training project online.
Two senior psychiatrists from Nagpur, Dr.
Sudhir Bhave and Dr.
Aba Bang Soni, led this initiative as chairman with the suicide prevention committee from the Indian Personal Psychiatric Association (IAPP).
Dr.
Bhave said that compared to lost life because of suicide, the number of people who tried suicide almost three times higher.
“Each can be prevented if assistance is offered and sought at the right time.
But the correct assistance for mental health problems, including suicide, is very limited,” he said.
The number of mental health professionals in India is very low.
According to research that was recently concluded, the number of psychiatrists in India varied from 0.05 in Madhya Pradesh to 1.2 in Kerala per lakh population.
“There is a need to develop a trained professional workforce to act as the first respondent to prevent suicide.
Initially, they will become a doctor.
Gradually, social workers, police and teachers will be involved,” said Dr.
Bhave.
IAPP has collaborated with the ‘secure space’ NGO for this task.
“The safe room has done extensive work in suicide prevention.
We have started the course of the first respondent suicide together with them.
This course has UK certification,” said Dr.
Bhave.
The IAPP President Dr.
Anukant Mittal told TI that it was his first initiative in this country.
“These are monthly courses, held for two weekends.
So far two batches of 16 participants have been trained.
This includes prevention, intervention and post-vention suicide training,” he said.
The next batch is scheduled for August and it’s full.
IAPP and safe space have planned to gradually expand the program to involve other stakeholders such as schools, colleges, police, etc.
Dr.
Abha Bang Soni said that they hoped to develop it as ‘training the coach program’ to produce more coaches.
“Wider educational opportunities have also been planned for those who are interested in mental health,” said the doctor.
Nyana Sabharwal, Safe Director of Space, is one of the coaches together with the organizer of the suicide prevention committee.
IAPP President Dr.
Mittal and Secretary of Dr Avinash D’Souza have played a role in designing and promoting this course.
Training aspects – Suicide behavior, reasons and magnitude of public health problems – the role of caregivers in managing suicide interventions, different roles with different people – understand the approach and process of suicide interventions including the desired reflection and personal results of the impact when working with suicide and risky people