World Suicide Prevention Day, an awareness program was organized by Ramgram Municipality Health Branch, The Horizon Times, News of Nepal

Ramgram: On the occasion of World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10, a one-day awareness program for adolescents for the prevention of suicide in the community has been organized at Ramgram-14 Amraut Health Post in collaboration with Ramgram Municipal Health Branch and Indreni Social Development Forum, Panchnagar (Sami Project) West Nawalparasi.

The program was chaired by Paras Nath Chaudhary, Ward Chairman of Ramgram Municipality, Ward No. 14. Suraj Harijan, Health Branch, Ramgram Municipality highlighted the objective of the program. Ramu Bhusal, District Secretary, Immigrant Family Rights Forum, Nawalparasi, facilitated the causes of suicide, its solution, role of adolescents, mental problems in choosing suicide, how to get free psycho-counseling to solve mental problems, free helpline provided by the Government of Nepal. Sumitra Chaudhary, a psycho-counselor of the Sami project, facilitated the discussion.

The program was attended by Amraut Health Branch staff, Arjun Koiri, President of Janata Ma Vishalaya, journalists working in various media in the district, staff working on Sami Project in Sunwal, Bardaghat, Ramgram, and teenagers studying in schools of Ramgram-14 and 18. The program was moderated by Balram Sapkota, Chief of Sukrauli Health Branch.

Meanwhile, on the occasion of the day, various organizations including the Ministry of Health and Population are conducting suicide prevention programs, but the number of suicides is increasing every year. According to Vasudev Karki, 7,117 people committed suicide in the fiscal year 2077/78 BS. According to him, more than 5.58 percent have committed suicide in a year. According to government statistics, only 6,241 people committed suicide in Nepal in the fiscal year 2076/77. In FY 2075/76, 5,754 people committed suicide, in FY 2074/75, 5,317 people committed suicide and in FY 2073/74, 5,124 people committed suicide.

While the government has said that the suicide rate will be reduced to 4.7 by 2030 to achieve the sustainable goal, 16 people commit suicide every day in Nepal. According to the National Mental Health Survey, 6.5 percent of people in Nepal think and plan suicide. Suicides account for 1.4 percent of all deaths.

Ramu Bhusal