NONGPOH:
The office of the District Medical and Health officer, Ri Bhoi district, observed World Suicide Prevention day on September 11, by organising a street awareness program at Iew Bhoirymbong.
The program was attended by the BDO of Bhoirymbong C&RD Block as the chief guest, along with the District Medical and Health Officer, Ri Bhoi, officials from the health department, counselors from Kripa Foundation, students of GNM School of Nursing Pahamsyiem, and office bearers of Dorbar Shnong Bhoirymbong.
‘Creating hope through action’; the World Health Organisation’s triennial theme for 2021–2023.
During the program, the students of GNM School of Nursing Pahamsyiem performed a skit on suicide and prevention from suicide.
Speaking on the occasion, Meban Tarianh Counselor of Kripa Foundation said, “Mental health is serious, and I’ve been an addict and the one who fought and was able to overcome the drug addiction and mental health. At that point in time, if not for my family, I wouldn’t be able to become the man I am today. Therefore, on this World Suicide Prevention Day, I want everyone to be open and talk about their problems with someone they trust, because if you keep them to yourself, they will hunt you and you’ll be tempted to kill yourself. For the parents, family members, and society, I urge you to be supportive of these people who are facing these health issues because, for them, it’s very hard to survive alone, and they need you to be with them and encourage them. There are a lot of counseling centers; help them reach into these centers and get the treatment. Mental health can’t be cured with just medicine but with counseling and supportive family and society”.
P. Mukhim, BDO of Bhoirymbong C &RD Block, talks about joint action against these mental health conditions: “It’s very hard to identify a mental patient because mental health is not something like cancer, fever, or malaria; in fact, it kills someone slowly with their own emotions, and this will lead to suicide because they can’t bear their feelings”.
Dr. P. Kharnari, DMHO, Ri Bhoi District, said, “The government tries to bring this type of awareness to create a closer connection between the people and the government and to make people aware that mental health is serious and that the rising number of suicide cases is because of the mental health issue. Sometimes society criticizes the mental patient while the patient can’t bear the stimulation he’s facing and is sometimes willing to take their own life. Suicide can be from poverty, relationships, low self-esteem, and many other reasons, but it’s all connected to the mental health issue; therefore, to prevent suicide, we should first help the mental patient overcome their health issues”.
“The society, the family, and the government should be working together hand in hand to help one another and overcome this disease,” Kharnari concluded.