DIMAPUR — As part of ‘World Suicide Prevention Week,’ District Mental Health Programme (DMHP), Wokha, organised an awareness programme on the theme ‘Changing the narrative on suicide’ with the call to action ‘Start the conversation’ at Mount Tiyi College (MTC), Wokha, on Friday.
The theme speaker of the programme, Amenla Longkumer, clinical psychologist at DMHP Wokha, said that changing the narrative on suicide means transforming the way people perceive suicide and shifting from a culture of silence and stigma to one of openness, understanding and support.
Amenla informed that the most common causes of death by suicides are family problem, illness, substance abuse, marriage related issues, love affairs, financial problems and unemployment, an update from CMO office, Wokha stated.
She sought for the collective effort of civil society, government departments, church ministries, educational institutions etc. to prevent suicide.
Mentioning that isolation and loneliness are major health crisis, she said that knowing how to maintain interpersonal relationships could help one build a support system that provides strength as one copes with life’s challenges.
Nrithung Lotha, psychiatric social worker at DMHP Wokha, said that warning signs of suicide are crucial for help and prevention. He also spoke on the behavioural changes of person with suicidal thoughts such as withdrawal from family and friends, display of extreme mood swings and increase intake of alcohol or drugs.
Nrithung informed the students that the Telemanas toll free helpline no.14416 is available to provide professional help for such cases. Mental health professionals from DMHP team at District Hospital Wokha could also be contacted to provide counseling and referral support, he added.
Earlier, Dr. KZ Ovung, vice principal of MTC, welcomed the resource persons from DMHP Wokha and participants to the awareness programme.
The programme concluded with vote of thanks delivered by Rentsamo Humtsoe, assistant professor at MTS.
A similar programme was also organised by DMHP Wokha at Government Higher Secondary School, Wokha, on September 12, wherein awareness talk on suicide prevention was delivered by Lireni Tungoe, psychiatric nurse, DMHP.
She mentioned that suicide is considered as the leading cause of death among people aged 15-24 years.
She highlighted on the warning signs and myths and facts associated with suicide and encouraged the students to be advocates in spreading the information on suicide prevention and concluded her presentation by leading the students to take the pledge on suicide.
The programme, chaired by Wonchibeni Bertilla, community nurse at DMHP, was attended by more than 300 school students.