Suicide prevention should be national priority, says Kovind

Suicide prevention is not just the responsibility of psychiatrists, but of society as a whole, said former president Ram Nath Kovind at the 40^th year anniversary of Sneha, a non-governmental organsation dedicated to suicide prevention.

Mr. Kovind was speaking at the inaugural event of the national conference on Suicide Prevention, Mental Health Awareness and Compassionate Care being organised by Sneha from February 26 to 28.

The event was attended by Justice V. Ramasubramanian, former judge of the Supreme Court; Bharat Lal, secretary general and CEO, National Human Rights Commission; Jo Robinson, president of International Association for Suicide Prevention; T.S.S. Rao, president of Indian Psychiatric Society; Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti, president of Sneha; Lakshmi Vijayakumar, founder of Sneha; and M.C. Anand, director of Sneha.

“Sneha has been a beacon of hope, transforming distress into pathways of healing and hope. The organisation has relied on the selfless dedication of volunteers to reach 1.5 million lives through email, phone calls, chat, and in-person interactions,” Mr. Kovind said.

Mr. Kovind said National Crime Records Bureau data for 2023 recorded over 1,71,000 suicides across the country. He noted that student suicides had surged by 65% between 2013 and 2023, reaching a high of 13,892 cases last year. He added that students, women from disadvantaged backgrounds, farmers, and elderly persons grappling with loneliness remain particularly vulnerable.

“Suicide prevention is a national priority and imperative, linked to the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution. Addressing the crisis requires bridging systemic gaps that fuel vulnerability,” he said, adding that at the heart of effective prevention lie compassionate care, early intervention, and robust support systems.

Tracing historical attitudes to suicide, Justice Ramasubramanian said that religions traditionally condemned the act as a sin, while legal systems oscillated between criminalisation and reform. Though courts and policymakers are now moving in the right direction, strengthening mental healthcare and awareness remains crucial, he added.

Dr. Vijayakumar attributed the success of Sneha to its volunteers. She said, “Every time I go to the centre and I see my volunteers, it reconfirms my faith in humanity. For human beings to be there, available for other human beings, simply because they want to help them in distress, I think that’s humanity.”

A documentary on the 40-year journey of Sneha was screened at the event.