Project Suraksha of Nimhans leads suicide prevention efforts in Karnataka

Bengaluru: Kavitha (name changed), a woman from Channapatna taluk in Bengaluru South district, had attempted to take her own life after struggling with family-related problems. “I wanted to die as I thought I had no one left in the world,” the farmers’ group leader recalled. But timely intervention saved her life and today, she is helping others get rid of suicidal thoughts.

Many such stories stand testament to the impact of Project SURAKSHA (SURveillance system to trAcK suicide and SelfHArm), a community-based suicide prevention programme piloted in Channapatna taluk in 2023 under Nimhans Suicide Prevention, Research, Implementation Training and Engagement Centre (N-SPRITE).

An evaluation report of the three-year project, released Wednesday, revealed there have been no repeat suicide attempts among more than 1,600 cases recorded in 69 self-harm registries monitored across health centres and hospitals under the initiative so far. The project is a joint initiative of Nimhans, the Karnataka govt, and Himalaya Wellness Company.

Kavitha said she now receives five to six calls every month from people seeking support.

Dr Prabha S Chandra, director, Nimhans, said, “Developing an ecosystem that does not stigmatise but rather supports persons who attempt suicide prevents repeat attempts and many lives can be saved is the need of the hour. One must also not forget those who are left behind. Project Suraksha aims at supporting families and friends who are impacted by suicide loss.”

The project began with the establishment of community-based surveillance teams (CBSTs), responsible for early identification, referral, and risk management of individuals vulnerable to suicide. Currently, the CBSTs comprise 795 trained members, including panchayat leaders, healthcare workers, self-help group members, and teachers.

As of Feb 2026, over 1.7 lakh people in the taluk have been reached through IEC materials carrying details of the project helpline. The helpline has received more than 193 calls, including 33 crisis calls requiring immediate intervention, according to Dr Anish V Cherian, principal investigator of Project Suraksha, Lead–N-Sprite, and additional professor at Nimhans. The initiative has also reached more than 14,000 students and 83 teachers in schools and colleges.

Following its implementation across 32 gram panchayats in Channapatna, the project will now be expanded to all five taluks of Ramanagara district. Karnataka govt has also approved Phase I implementation of the project in Bellary district, as Karnataka remains among the five states reporting the highest number of suicides in India. “The expansion of these projects is not merely a logistical milestone; it is a clinical necessity. By moving from localised pilots to district-wide implementation, we are closing the gap between research and practice,” Dr Anish said.