ASHA workers keep vigil on suicidal tendencies in villages

Bengaluru: At 42, Bindu's life took a harrowing turn when her father ended his life amid a family feud. Overwhelmed by grief, the anganwadi worker and devoted mother of two from Ramanagara attempted suicide a year later after a heated argument with her brother over property.Fortunately, Bindu found hope through Project SURAKSHA. This initiative offers comprehensive support, including psychotherapy and grief counselling, to individuals in rural areas. Each case is handled through a series of counselling sessions designed to address troubling thoughts and providing the tools needed for recovery.Project SURAKSHA, which is a collaboration between Himalaya Wellness Company, govt of Karnataka and Nimhans, focuses on creating a comprehensive surveillance system to address suicides. With the alarming rise in suicide rates in Karnataka, the project has been implemented in Channapatna taluk of Ramanagara district, covering 32 panchayats. It involves various community stakeholders, including farmers, daily-wage workers, students, media professionals and women's groups, providing early identification, crisis intervention and referrals for mental health support.Latha NT, an ASHA worker from Nagavara village, Channapatna, says, "The project has transformed ASHA workers into trained gatekeepers who can now identify and intervene with individuals showing suicidal thoughts. Before the project, suicide awareness was limited, with deaths often misclassified as heart attacks or natural causes. Now, we have a separate suicide register in 16 PHCs in Channapatna, allowing for immediate reporting and support. Communities are more informed and report incidents promptly. Our regular PHC meetings address suicidal instances, providing crucial support to survivors and their families."KG Umesh, director, HR, Himalaya Wellness, says. "Before this initiative, many suicide cases went under-reported. Now, with specialised training, ASHA workers can identify warning signs and refer individuals for timely counselling, saving lives. Our collaboration with Nimhans ensures our interventions are research-driven. Dedicated suicide registers and timely strategies foster a culture of mental health awareness, proving that earlier intervention could have saved many lives."