The World Health Organisation puts suicide as the fourth leading cause of death among 15 to 29-year-olds across the globe. For every suicide, there are many more people who attempt suicide, it says.
Hence, it is important that we have enough suicide prevention helplines to reach out to people during the crisis. As per National Crime Records Bureau data, last released in 2021, Andhra Pradesh sees 8,067 suicides every year.
However, noted psychiatrist and member of State Mental Health Council Indla Ramasubba Reddy lamented the lack of a dedicated helpline and centre. “While Tamil Nadu has Sneha and Telangana has Roshini, such a dedicated centre, where people are given emotional aid, is not available to people of our State,” Dr. Ramasubba Reddy says.
