NEWS – NIMHANS to Launch Suicide Prevention Centre on September 10

HIGHLIGHTS

Objective

• Address the increasing issue of suicide and self-harm in India, a major public health challenge requiring urgent intervention.

Launch Details

• The Suicide Prevention Centre will be inaugurated on World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10).
• Aims to improve mental health assessments and care planning for self-harm patients in general hospitals.

Urban Self-Harm Study (USHAS)

• Since 2022, in collaboration with Karnataka’s Health Department, NIMHANS has counseled 7,201 individuals across five hospitals in Bengaluru, and one each in Mysuru and Chamarajnagar under USHAS
• The project involves assessing and intervening to reduce suicide attempts among survivors.

Critical Gaps in Healthcare

• Many self-harm patients are discharged without mental health assessments, highlighting gaps in addressing the root causes.
• The new centre aims to address these issues with integrated programmes for better mental health care.

Centre’s Key Objectives

• Increase mental health assessments among self-harm patients.
• Improve engagement with mental health services.
• Reduce repetition of self-harm cases.
• Enhance healthcare professionals’ skills in managing self-harm patients.

Long-Term Vision

• Dedicated to strengthening research, training, and suicide prevention strategies.
• Establish a sustainable framework for suicide prevention, replicable across regions and adaptable to community needs.

Partnership and Support

• Supported by the Institute of Public Health, Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences, Department of Biotechnology, and Wellcome Trust India Alliance.