Jamshedpur: Jeevan succeeds in saving 700 suicides mostly of students

Jamshedpur, Sep 8: City-based Suicide Prevention Centre Jeevan’s, efforts to control suicide cases in the city has brought fruitful results. While in 2021, 255 suicide cases were reported while this year till the month of August only 126 cases of suicides have been reported so far. Founder of Jeevan Mahabir Ram, director Jeoraj Jain and deputy director Durga Rao said that the cases are under control by the beginning of the year.  

“ More than 10,000 people with mental problems got emotional support from our trained volunteers during the last 16 years. Statistical estimates reveal that we have saved about 700 suicides, mostly by students,” said Ram.

He added: “Apart from our main objective of preventing suicides by Befriending Services, we also provide pro-active services by conducting out-reach programs. You may be aware that during the Corona period, our volunteers worked from home and could voluntarily extend the working hours from 8 hours to 15 hours a day. The no. of Callers also increased almost 4 times.

During Corona period, the Suicides have abruptly increased throughout the World. Jamshedpur was also badly affected by ‚unemployment and uncertain‛ conditions. There was an abnormal increase in Suicide Rate in the town. As against 177 suicides in the year 2019, suicides shot up to 258 in 2020 and to 255 in 2021. The average rate has shot up from 14 to 21 suicides per month.

Jai said that hudging from the fact that our volunteers extended their service- hours as well as its scope and the fact that the number of callers also more than doubled, the actual incidence of suicides might have gone up very high in the absence of Jeevan. We are striving with our concerted efforts to achieve the best ever lowest figure of 177 by this year end. We need media support by way of giving publicity to our Helpline numbers 92977 77500 / 99553 77500.

On the occasion, Gurpreet Kaur Bhatia said that Competitions are being conducted to enhance awareness about prevention of Suicides and Depression.Students Rally on 10.9.22 at 10 AM : 100 Students of Schools would take part in enhancing the Awareness against Suicides by carrying Slogans in the Rally. Extempore Speech on the WHO Theme ‚Creating Hope through Action ‚ among Students of 12 schools, Sit and Draw Competition in association with Women Organisations among 15 schools. A video-clip on the theme by creative students, 15 entries have been received. The winners of the Competitions would be suitably rewarded during our main program, being held on 10. 9. 22 evening from 5.30 pm at Narbheram School, Bistupur.