Series of awareness events on mental health and stress management was today organised by the Department of Health and Family Welfare Doda to mark the "World Suicide Prevention Day".The District NCD Cell organised the awareness programme at ANMT School Doda under the supervision of Chief Medical Officer, Dr Mohd Yaqoob Mir and on the directions of the Director Health Services Jammu.Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Medical Officer highlighted the importance of addressing the problem of rising suicidal tendency and its prevention. He listed different activities through which suicides can be prevented.District Mental & Health Programme Officer, Dr Zia Showket Mughal, who was the Resource Person on the occasion, delivered a detailed lecture on the subject.Dr Zia Showket Mughal said that suicide is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and according to the World Health Organization (WHO) more than 700,000 people die by suicide every year. It is the fourth leading cause of death among the 15-19-years age group, he added.
Elaborating further, Dr Zia said suicides also have a ripple effect on an individual’s family, friends, colleagues and communities. It is, however, preventable and several steps can be taken to help the vulnerable, he said.The goal is to shine a light on the issue and reach out to the people who are struggling, before it’s too late. The ongoing pandemic has made people more anxious, depressed and susceptible to take such extreme steps for several reasons, like job loss, losing a close one to coronavirus, lack of social gatherings and so on. The best way to prevent suicide is to recognize warning signs and know how to respond to such a crisis, said Dr Zia Showket.District Finance & Logistic Consultant NCD Doda Mohammad Faheem Butt also spoke on the occasion and appealed to the participants to create mass awareness at community level and motivate people to come out of problems and cooperate with this complicated issue so that precious lives can be saved.The programme was attended by the students of ANMT School Doda besides the staff from CMO Office.Similar kind of awareness programmes were also held at Medical Block Assar, Bhaderwah, Gandoh, Ghat and Thathri on the occasion of World Suicide and Prevention Day.