Scoring good marks not as important as being good humans: RSB MD SK Behera

Society, families create pressure leading to mental distress among individuals: SK Behera

Jeevan marks World Suicide Prevention Day with felicitations, awareness drives

Jamshedpur, Sept 10: Jeevan, the city’s suicide prevention centre, organized a series of programmes to mark World Suicide Prevention Day. The day-long observance featured felicitation of individuals and institutions while earlier in the month thought-provoking performances, student competitions, and rallies were organised across the city.

The main event was held at Michael John Auditorium on September 10, where eminent industrialist S.K. Behera, Managing Director of RSB Transmissions, attended as the chief guest.

In his keynote address, SK Behera lauded Jeevan’s efforts in tackling such a difficult subject as suicide prevention. He described his association with Jeevan’s founder and said he was honoured to attend the programme. Reflecting on the importance of nurturing youth with empathy, Behera stressed that society and families often create undue pressure that contributes to mental distress.

“Suicide is not something that medicine alone can cure,” he remarked. “It is the environment around us—family, society, and the race for material success—that creates these pressures. If we constantly tell our children to score above 95 just because a neighbour’s child has scored 94, we are setting them up for jealousy and fear. Instead, we should encourage them to first become good human beings. Marks and achievements will follow.”

Behera praised a skit performed by school students during the event, which highlighted the struggles of children under academic and parental pressure. “They explained it so beautifully. We don’t need more knowledge than this. We, the parents and elders, are responsible for this problem,” he said.

Quoting recent examples, he pointed to a young social media influencer, Misha Agarwal, who tragically took her life due to declining online followers. “Can you imagine? A small failure, a dip in popularity, and someone so talented chose to end her life. This shows how fragile our society has become,” Behera observed, urging everyone to guide the younger generation towards resilience and perspective.

Citing statistics provided by Jeevan, Behera highlighted that 181 people died by suicide in the region last year, 45 percent of whom were adults, not students. “Many of them were people rushing after the materialistic world and failing somewhere. Instead of thinking it is the end, they must be told to keep trying, because life always has possibilities,” he said.

Sharing a moving anecdote, Behera recounted how one individual contemplating suicide was dissuaded after being asked to first meet counsellors. “He came, was listened to, and changed his mind. Later he even touched the counsellor’s feet, saying, ‘You saved my life.’ This is the kind of support our society needs to extend,” Behera noted.

SK Behera reiterated the importance of collective effort. “This is not the end of the world. Failures happen, but with support and compassion, people can overcome them. Let us all take responsibility to listen, understand, and guide those around us. This is the greatest service we can render to society,” he said.

He assured Jeevan of RSB Foundation’s support for future initiatives in mental health and suicide prevention.

Founded in 2006 by Dr. Ram Jain, Jeevan has steadily grown into one of Jamshedpur’s most respected voluntary organisations, dedicated to saving lives through counselling, outreach, and awareness. The centre operates a confidential helpline and provides emotional support to distressed individuals, while also conducting training sessions, school outreach, and public events.

Speaking about the organisation’s journey, Jeevan’s Director Dr. Jeoraj Jain emphasized that Jeevan was created to fill a critical gap in society. “When individuals feel cornered and hopeless, even a listening ear can make all the difference. Our mission has always been to provide that support, reduce stigma, and encourage open conversations around mental health,” he said.

Alongside the auditorium event, Jeevan organized 20 rallies across Jamshedpur to spread the message of suicide prevention. These rallies involved schools, colleges, community groups, and volunteers carrying placards and banners, urging society to break the silence around mental illness.

To engage the youth directly, Jeevan also hosted competitions on the theme of “Removing the Stigma Around Mental Health.” Around 170 students from 20 schools and colleges took part in activities including essay writing, posters, and presentations. The creativity and insights of the students were widely appreciated by the organisers.

Another key highlight was the felicitation of individuals, institutions, and organisations that have supported Jeevan’s work over the years. Their contribution in spreading awareness and extending help was acknowledged as an integral part of building a network of community resilience.

The panel of dignitaries—including Dr. Sutradhar, Dr. Nair, and other senior guests—concurred that suicide prevention cannot be left to medical professionals alone. “It requires collective responsibility—families, schools, workplaces, and community organisations must all work together to create a culture of empathy and openness,” one speaker noted.

Jeevan plans to expand its outreach programmes to include training modules for teachers, workplace counselling workshops, and youth leadership programmes. With suicide being a leading cause of death among young people, the organisation hopes to build resilience at both the individual and community levels.