Creating hope through action can kill thoughts to end own life

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Sept. 11: Government authorities, public organisations and private firms across the country observed World Suicide Prevention Day by organising different programmes on Sunday.

The world started celebrating September 10 as Suicide Prevention Day in 2003. The day was celebrated this year with the triennial (2021-2023) theme “Creating Hope Through Action”.

As per the theme, there is a need for a powerful call to action and reminder that suicide is not an alternative. 

Organisations celebrating the day across Nepal on Sunday also uphold the need to increase awareness of mental health and create an environment where individuals can share their problems with others and get motivation and support to continue living.

According to our Rukum West correspondent, stakeholders organised a discussion programme on the occasion of World Suicide Prevention Day in Musikot.

“Domestic violence, alcohol, poverty, poor health and unemployment, among others, have been some major causes of suicide. A single authority will never be able to solve all these issues and prevent suicide cases,” said Hari Prasad Pant, Chief District Officer of Rukum West.

Speaking at the discussion programme, Dipa Dhital, WOREC Nepal’s Rukum West coordinator, said that access to psychosocial and psychological counselling could help individuals stop thinking of suicide.

According to Rukum West District Police, 94 individuals committed suicide in the district in the past three fiscal years (2020/21 to 2022/23). “Three individuals committed suicide in the current fiscal year 2023/24,” said Inspector Dharmendra Khadka of Rukum West District Police.

According to our Banke correspondent, Banke District Police and its units organised awareness campaigns against suicide.

“In the last fiscal year 2022/23, 101 individuals committed suicide in the district. It was an increase from 31 and 47 in 2020/21 and 2021/22 respectively,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Narayan Dangi of Banke District Police.

DSP Dangi stressed that individuals commit suicide after serious mental stress caused by different reasons. 

“There is a need for individuals to believe that ending their lives is not the solution. However, they should have an environment to make them believe it. Every individual in a community has a role to play in preventing suicide,” said DSP Dangi.

Nepal Police Headquarters has also issued a notice on Sunday requesting citizens to give a call at “100” for any support against suicide.

According to Nepal Police, 6,241 cases of suicide were reported in 2019/20; 7,117 in 2020/21; and 6,792 in 2021/22.

Similarly, the Ministry of Health and Population informed that a citizen can reach professional counsellors by calling ‘1166’, a toll-free hotline number of the Ministry to help individuals get rid of suicidal thoughts.

“Suicide is a common problem and requires a multi-sectoral approach for its prevention. The public and society should create an environment where an individual with mental problems can share them and get motivation and support in return,” said Mohan Bahadur Basnet, Minister for Health and Population, in a video message on the occasion of World Suicide Prevention Day.