Suicide prevention a national priority: Ram Nath Kovind

By Divyashree L

CHENNAI: Suicide prevention must be treated as a national priority anchored in compassion, early intervention and community support, former President Ram Nath Kovind said here on Wednesday.


Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of Sneha, a Chennai-based suicide prevention organisation founded in 1986, cited NCRB data showing over 1.7 lakh suicides in 2023, including a sharp rise in student suicides over the past decade, and said these were not mere statistics but “shattered families and lost potential”.

Calling for 24×7 helplines, counselling in schools and workplaces, responsible media reporting and stigma reduction, he said: “Sometimes saving a life does not require extraordinary power; it only requires human empathy.”

Chairperson of National Human Rights Commission Justice V Ramasubramanian said India’s approach to suicide had evolved from criminalisation to recognising mental health as a key factor. However, he stressed that legal reform alone was insufficient and must be complemented by stronger mental healthcare systems and greater awareness. He added that the NHRC would focus more on this area while working with organisations such as Sneha.

Sneha founder Dr Lakshmi Vijayakumar said the organisation was built on the belief that suicide is a cry for help and that emotional pain can be eased only through compassionate listening.

Recalling key policy interventions, she said Sneha approached the Tamil Nadu govt in 2001 after receiving distress calls from students fearful of failing board examinations, leading the state to become the first in the country to introduce supplementary exams in 2004. Since then, the share of exam-related suicides has declined from about 4.8% to nearly 2%, she said.

Dr T S S Rao, president of the Indian Psychiatric Society, praised Sneha’s pioneering work and said suicide prevention must address biological, psychological and social factors, stressing the need to equip younger generations with coping skills to handle failure.