Suicide is a social, systemic, economic, and political tragedy at a national and global scale. According to the 2021 studies by the Mariwala Health Institute (MHI), nearly 140,000 people die every year because of suicide in India, which accounts for 17% of deaths through suicide globally. 

WHO states that about 700,000 people die by suicide every year worldwide. In India, this epidemic is highest among the age group of 18 to 25 years old, wherein the number of young adults who belong to marginalized communities is high. The 2021 MHI study also indicates that in less than a decade, at least 25 students belonging to marginalized communities have died by suicide owing to caste-based discrimination. 

While the causes of suicide are many, we need to remember that the language used to refer to it should be empathetic and devoid of judgment. For every person who dies by suicide, many more attempt it, indicating the extreme distress of many people globally that is passed on as a ripple effect to families, friends, society, nation, and the world. People closely impacted by suicide are at risk sometimes and may also suffer from PTSD, depression, or prolonged grief.

Though perceived as an individual problem, we need to remember that suicide is a social issue that requires collective efforts of people from every strata of society to work together to help people overcome it. Many NGOs at both national and global levels are trying to mobilize community support to reduce instances of death due to suicide. When suicide prevention NGOs garner the support of society through awareness creation and sensitization, the stigma against suicide can be broken and myths busted.

The importance of NGO intervention in suicide

To eradicate the suicide crisis, mental health NGOs, government bodies, communities, and welfare societies have to collaborate and work together, as suicide should be viewed from a systemic lens, not a diagnostic lens. 

One of the primary barriers to reducing suicidal deaths in society is systemic discrimination at various levels. Discrimination and harassment based on identity, age, gender, caste, language, and many other factors that occur at institutions must be addressed at the country and world level. 

Hence, primary institutions like local governing bodies, schools, colleges, and workplaces require the support of non-government organizations that work mainly for suicide prevention. 

These NGOs provide support through volunteers, helplines, and training workshops to public institutions like schools, colleges, and corporate & government organizations to fight the suicide problem at different levels and spaces. Also, suicide prevention organizations work closely with specialized NGOs to rehabilitate specific, marginalized groups. They also work with policy-making and think tanks to address the issue at the policy level. Thus, they address the problem at both micro and macro level.

Top Indian NGOs working for suicide prevention

AASRA

AASRA, a suicide prevention organization founded in 1998, functions as a part of the “Befrienders Worldwide Initiative” and is a 24×7 helpline for people who need emergency support. Located in Mumbai, this organization trains volunteers to manage the helpline for at least 6 months. Touted as a crisis intervention center for the distressed and suicidal, they also conduct workshops at different levels for high-risk groups of students at schools & colleges and stressed workers at organizations. People with empathy from all walks of life are welcome to volunteer at Aasra to make a difference. Registered as a public charity, donations to Aasra help the organization increase the number of volunteers to prevent suicide.

Suicide Prevention India Foundation

Known among India’s prominent suicide prevention organizations, this non-profit was started in September 2017 in Bangalore and is a partner of the QPR Institute, a very important organization working for suicide prevention globally. Following the “gatekeeper training strategy” recommended by the WHO, the main goal of this organization is to train people to identify emotionally vulnerable and at-risk individuals and point them to relevant resources and helplines. 

Suicide Prevention India Foundation is also one of the primary NGOs aimed at mental health awareness for at-risk people. They run two primary campaigns, wherein the first campaign focuses on creating awareness, acceptance, and taking action to prevent suicide, called “Ssh…out”; the second campaign is the the “Circle of Protection” campaign known to protect children and teenagers from the risk of suicide and self-harm. 

To achieve these campaign goals, they have provided online training to many gatekeepers to help recognize suicidal tendencies within their community. Their rigorous effort to combat suicide includes conducting offline gatekeeper training at schools, colleges, and corporate institutions. 

Lifeline Foundation

Founded in Kolkata, the Lifeline Foundation is recognized worldwide for its unique initiative of volunteers visiting welfare societies and correction homes. Their primary motto is fighting suicide at the societal and systemic level by breaking the stigma associated with suicide. They also conduct mental health awareness and well-being workshops at various societies and homes. They also promote networking and collaboration of mental health NGOs with organizations primarily working towards suicide prevention. 

Sumaitri

Sumaitri is a volunteer-run organization in Delhi that was started in 1988 and has helped more than 1 lakh people through calls and visits. The uniqueness of Sumaitri is that it is run 365 days, 24×7, by volunteers who dedicate at least 5 hours every week to crisis intervention.

Challenges and future prospects

Despite suicide prevention being a public health issue, NGOs have to work a lot to reduce the stigma around suicides. 

Even though the law has decriminalized suicide, the societal attitude toward suicide is often judgmental and accusatory. Even media reporting of death by suicide fuels the stigma associated with it. Hence, the organizations working to stop suicides have a two-fold responsibility of suicide prevention and making society a safe space for people to express themselves without fear and shame. 

Another challenge the NGOs encounter is the lack of public support regarding volunteers and donations. Though many good samaritans are working on suicide prevention, much more support is required from people.

With the advent of technology, NGOs need to utilize tools like artificial intelligence (AI) to reduce the suicide rate. Perhaps the automation of helplines can help reduce the strain on human volunteers and provide more help, even in remote places. 

Self-harm and attempts to end one’s life are desperate cries for help. The organizations working to prevent suicides need more recognition and support. The fight against suicide should become every person’s fight and not be restricted to these organizations alone. As a society, we do not act on an issue unless it directly impacts us. But it is time that we act, come together, and collaborate to help people. Suicide is not just an individual problem but a responsibility of humanity to protect humanity.