Suicide prevention centre inaugurated at GH

NECESSARY INTERVENTION: District Revenue Officer R.Satish speaking at the inauguration of Sukira Counselling Centre for Suicide Prevention in Erode on Friday.

A suicide prevention centre to ensure immediate response to those in need of counselling became operational at the Government Headquarters Hospital.

V. Sukira Trust that has started the Centre along with the Police Department will henceforth be responding to calls made to toll free number 1800 425 7788, landline 0424 2222111, and cellphone 9842536217. Volunteers at the Centre will analyse whether the callers have suicidal thoughts or tendencies and decide the appropriate response.

Suicidal tendency, said the Trust Chairman Ashok, was more dangerous than suicidal thoughts. More often, a person with suicidal thoughts is vocal and will seek counselling. Those with suicidal tendency, the ones who tend to do things silently, need to be identified and referred to the Centre by others, he said.