Jeevan to expand facilities, launch 24×7 helpline services
Jamshedpur, Sept 9: Family disputes and domestic conflicts are emerging as the biggest cause of suicides in Jamshedpur, said Dr. Jeoraj Jain, Director of Jeevan, the city-based suicide prevention centre. Addressing a press conference on the eve of World Suicide Prevention Day, Dr. Jain said that in 2024, the city recorded 181 suicides, while in 2025, until August, 131 suicides had already been reported. “In the last eight months of 2025, out of 131 suicides, 18 were due to family conflicts – between husband and wife, between parents and children or other close relations.”
As per Jeevan’s data, 181 people died by suicide in 2024 of which 36 suicides were due to family problems.
Of the 131 cases recorded till August 2025, 89 were men and 42 women females, marking an increasing trend of suicides among women compared to previous years.
According to Dr. Jain, while suicide has various triggers including financial stress, relationship conflicts, and mental illness, domestic discord continues to dominate. “The data clearly shows that we cannot overlook family-related issues as a core reason,” he said.
Dr. Jain stressed the importance of awareness and timely counselling. “Research shows that in 90% of cases, the first suicide attempt fails. Instead of hiding such incidents, families must seek psychological help immediately. If we intervene on time, 90% lives can be saved,” he added.
Deputy Director of Jeevan, Gurpreet Kaur Bhatia, echoed these concerns, adding that awareness campaigns are now being extended to schools and colleges. “We have introduced three important modules — empowering students to face failures, training parents on good parenting practices, and sensitizing teachers to identify stress in children. These modules are already being implemented through awareness sessions,” she said.
She also informed that Jeevan has started innovative programs such as comic script competitions and one-act plays to remove the stigma around mental health. “This year, we organized 20 rallies across Jamshedpur to spread awareness about suicide prevention. About 170 students from 20 schools and colleges participated in competitions based on the theme of removing stigma around mental health,” Bhatia noted. “We want to spread awareness in every corner, including rural areas, because stress and depression are not limited to urban populations.”
Suicide prevention centre Jeevan also announced plans to expand its office and services with the support of Tata Steel, enabling 24×7 helpline operations. At present, Jeevan provides counselling from 10 am to 6 pm.
Dr. Jain said, “We already have 40 volunteers, but to operate round the clock we need more trained manpower. Tata Steel has committed support for building a new training hall, the ground breaking ceremony for which will be inaugurated in October. This hall will seat 60 people and allow us to train volunteers more effectively.”
“Our volunteers undergo a rigorous training program with international manuals developed by Befrienders Worldwide, UK. The process includes a year-long probation and regular refresher sessions,” he said.
The helpline at Jeevan currently receives an average of 20 calls daily, with some callers even connecting from abroad. “Our service is completely free, and we spend as much time as needed with callers — sometimes up to three or four hours — until they feel stable,” Gurpreet Kaur Bhatia said. “But what is most concerning is that the majority of suicide victims do not reach us in time.”
Deputy Director added that the expanded facilities will not only benefit volunteers but also allow Jeevan to take its mission deeper into communities. “During the pandemic, we received calls even from rural areas, but today there is little awareness outside the city. With the new infrastructure and trained volunteers, we want to bridge this gap,” she said.
The organization follows up on high-risk callers and refers those with serious mental health issues to local psychiatrists.
Bhatia further added that Jeevan has started QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) training for college students and communities. “Just like CPR saves lives in heart emergencies, QPR can save lives in mental health crises. We want people from all walks of life to recognize warning signs and guide individuals to seek help,” she said.
Deputy Director also raised concerns about the growing role of social media in influencing vulnerable youth. “Many youngsters are taking drastic steps after facing online bullying, negative comments, or lack of validation on platforms like Facebook. Their tolerance level has gone down, and their self-confidence is fragile. We must make the next generation strong enough to face life’s ups and downs without resorting to such extreme measures,” he warned.
Jeevan is also pressing the district administration for closer collaboration. “We have repeatedly asked the administration to display our helpline number at every police station and to analyze suicide cases systematically, so that preventive measures can be designed. We have also requested safety nets at Dobo Bridge and repairs at Mango Bridge, both of which have emerged as suicide-prone spots,” Dr. Jain said.
Jeevan will felicitate individuals, institutions and organisations who have supported in spreading awareness to prevent suicides, during an event on September 10 at Michael John Auditorium. SK Behera, MD, RSB Transmissions will be present as the chief guest while Dr Gautam Sutradhar, Director, NIT Jamshedpur will be guest of honour. Dr Srikanth Nair, Director, Kerala Public School will be guest speaker.
