With a mission to raise awareness of suicide prevention, a father-son duo has embarked on a cycling expedition across the State.
Heads turned near Periyar bus stand on Saturday at 11 a.m. when the two, dressed in white, cycled across the road with banners of messages on how to help a person contemplating suicide.
They handed out pamphlets and notices to the onlookers and passers-by.
According to S. Lingaraj, who works as a swimming and ‘silambam’ instructor at a school in Dindigul, “more than two lakh persons committed suicide in the country last year. The number will increase if preventive steps are not taken. A lot can be done to help those contemplating to end their lives by simply recognising the symptoms and giving them counselling or help.”
“In the pamphlets, we have asked people to look out for such signs in their friends and family members and be supportive to them. We have also given words of encouragement to those who are depressed, asking them to seek out help and stay strong,” he added.
He started the expedition with his son, L. Gunashanmuga, a Class IX student, from Kanyakumari on January 1. They want the State government to establish an exclusive suicide prevention helpline and facilitate help from doctors and mental health experts from the place where the distress call originates.
The father-son duo is accompanied by three persons, who come in a motorcycle and a van, to help them in the expedition. “We also distribute short questionnaires, asking people about what they think are the most common reasons for a person to commit suicide, and whether there is a need for awareness of suicide prevention. The responses will help us approach people in a better way,” Mr. Lingaraj said.
From Madurai, the two are cycling to Dindigul, Tiruchi and Villupuram to reach Chennai by January 10.
In Madurai, TOPKIDS Counselling Centre runs a 24/7 suicide prevention phone counselling service ‘Uthavi.’ Call 9842178739 for phone counselling.
