“Taking your own life. Interesting expression, taking it from who? Once it's over, it's not you who'll miss it. Your own death is something that happens to everyone else. Your life is not your own, keep your hands off it.”
-Sherlock
Death is a word that induces fear in the mind. Yet, now more than ever, we hear about people who are forced to end their own lives. Today, the issues of suicides and mental health are on an all-time high. About 8,00,000 people worldwide commit suicide every year, of these 1,35,000 are Indians. Among the Indians, around 40,000 are students aged between 15 and 29.
A sense of helplessness, a sensation of drowning engulfs an individual and leads them to end it once and for all. The victims deem death as an escape from this world full of disappointment and misery. What can we do to prevent this? The answer often lies in lending your ear to the distressed and aiding them in their struggles without judgment.
While each victim has a distinct reason for suicide, it all can be chalked down to loneliness and the inability to find help. People hide their screaming thoughts behind a smiling face and mislead those around them into believing they’re happy.
It is on us to distinguish the false smiles and hear out their grief. Here are a few helplines you can call if you know someone who shows signs of depression or even if you’d feel like you’re going down that road, call them. We urge you!
1. Lifeline Foundation, Kolkata
Contact Info: +913324637401/7432 or email them on reach@lifelinekolkata.org
2. Maithri, KochiContact Info: 0484 2540530 or email maithrihelp@gmail.com
3. Kashmir Lifeline, SrinagarContact Info: 18001807020
4. Roshni, HyderabadContact Info: +914066202000/2001 or email them on roshnihelp@gmail.com
5. Samaritans, MumbaiContact Info: +91226464 3267/65653267/6565 3247 or mail them on samaritans.helpline@gmail.com
6. Saath, AhmedabadContact Info: +91 79 26305544/26300222 or email saath12@yahoo.com
7. iCall, MumbaiContact Info: +912225521111 or email them on icall@tiss.edu
8. Sneha, ChennaiContact Info: +914424640050/60 or email them on help@snehaindia.com
9. Sahai, BengaluruContact Info: +918025497777
10. You Matter by COOJ, GoaContact Info: 08322252525
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