To save lives, families must respond with empathy, not judgement: Experts

Panaji: Timely help, awareness, and support can save lives lost to suicide, which remains one of the leading causes of preventable deaths today, mental health experts say.

“Suicide is not an impulsive act alone. It is usually the end stage of unaddressed stress, depression, anxiety, or substance use. Recognising the signs early and connecting people with professional help can make the crucial difference,” says Dr Mary D’Souza, professor and head of department of the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour (IPHB), Bambolim.

The Tele Manas helpline has handled over 19,000 distress calls to date, with more than 15,000 calls initiated directly by users. Of these, suicidal thoughts or attempts account for nearly 3%, underscoring the vital role of the helpline in suicide prevention.

“Every call matters. Even a short counselling session at the right time can prevent self-harm,” she said. “Suicide prevention is not only the responsibility of doctors but also of families, schools, workplaces, and the wider community. Suicide can be prevented if warning signs are recognised and help is sought immediately. Families must respond with empathy, not judgement, and encourage the use of services like Tele Manas,” she said.

The warning signs include talking about wanting to die or feeling hopeless, withdrawing from social interactions, extreme mood swings, giving away belongings, risk-taking behaviour, and expressing feelings of being a burden.

While mental illness is a significant risk factor for suicide, it is not the only cause, says Dr Sneha Pokle, senior consultant psychiatrist at Tele Manas. The COOJ mental health foundation receives between 5 and 10 high distress calls each day. Instead of pointing fingers, everyone who is in a position of change must be responsible for playing their part in reducing the risk of suicide, said Dr Peter Castelino, director of COOJ mental health foundation. “It’s high time we adopt the national suicide prevention policy, which will help Goa become a model state in suicide prevention,” he added.