Nagaland: ‘Suicide can be prevented through proper counseling’

Dimapur, Oct. 31 (EMN): The assistant director of Serendip Guardians, a Dimapur-based NGO, Bokatoli Sumi, shared that suicide can be prevented through proper counseling and underscored the need to constantly encourage those persons suffering from depression to vent out their feelings.

“Talking about suicide doesn’t kill, rather it can open and avert suicidal thoughts,” she said.

She was speaking as the resource person at an awareness campaign on ‘HIV prevention and suicide prevention among youth’ on October 29 at Peace Centre hall, Chümoukedima. The campaign was organised by IQAC cell of North East Institute of Social Sciences and Research (NEISSR), in collaboration with MSW semester-I, district aids prevention and control unit (DAPCU) and Serendip Guardians.

She also stressed on the importance of awareness on the signs and symptoms associated with suicide among the general public, an update from NEISSR stated.

“Hopelessness, failure to socially integrate, low self-esteem, mood swings, insomnia, lethargy are some of the signs that one needs to look out for,” Bokatoli said.

She further stated that every individual has the capacity to render help to someone through changing the negative concept to positive.

The other resource person, Orenthung Ngullie, district ICTC supervisor, spoke on HIV/AIDS and the need to do away with various misconceptions which inadvertently lead to stigma and discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS/ (PLHA).

Ngullie also said that the youth can play an important role not only in the prevention of HIV/AIDS but also in reducing the associated stigma and discrimination. He added that attitudinal change about HIV/AIDS and condom usage could help a long way in stabilising the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS in the state.

As part of the campaign, the BSW 1st semester students performed a flash mob based on the theme ‘Zero suicide.’

It stated that a total of 21 students volunteered for the test as part of “Know your status campaign,” it stated.

NEISRR vice principal, Fr. Khing, delivered the address and felicitated the resource persons and guests.