Union Health Minister J P Nadda, speaking on World Suicide Prevention Day on Wednesday, urged citizens to “listen without judgment” and create open spaces to support people struggling with mental health challenges.
Taking to social media, he said, “World Suicide Prevention Day reminds us of the importance of compassion and care for people who may be silently struggling. By listening without judgment and creating open spaces, we can bring hope to those in pain.”
He appealed to the citizens to speak more openly about mental health, reduce stigma surrounding it and stand beside those in need. “With kindness and understanding, we can build a safer, more hopeful world for everyone,” Nadda posted on X.
World Suicide Prevention Day is observed every year on September 10, with this year’s theme focused on “Changing the Narrative on Suicide.” This day aims to chart actions to prevent suicides and to address suicide with compassion and understanding.
Suicides remain a critical global issue with over 7,20,000 estimated cases per year worldwide, affecting individuals and communities worldwide. One-third of global female and nearly a fourth of male suicides annually occur in India. On average, more than 100,000 lives are lost to suicide in India each year.
The trends in suicide rates are also becoming concerning for our nation. According to the Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the rate of suicides has risen from 9.9 per lakh population in 2017 to 12.4 per lakh population in 2022.
To counter this, the government in 2022 launched the first National Suicide Prevention Strategy (NSPS), which aims to cut suicide mortality by 10 per cent by 2030.
As part of this, national programmes were rolled out — such as Tele-MANAS (Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States), DMHP (District Mental Health Programme), RKSK (Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram), and Manodarpan to strengthen helplines, community outreach, and school-based support.
“Let us replace fear with empathy and isolation with support. Start the conversation — it could save a life. If you or someone you know is struggling, don’t wait — call Tele-MANAS at 14416 today for free, confidential mental health support and guidance,” added the Ministry of Health on X.