Surat police launch helpline number to prevent deaths by suicide
Move follows analysis by police teams of 1,866 such deaths in last three years
3 min read
The accused had argued that he was a senior citizen and was not proficient in dealing with digital documents. In an initiative to prevent deaths by suicide, the Surat police have launched a helpline number — a move, which follows a report based on a detailed study by the police department of 1,866 such deaths in the last three years.
They have asked people to dial 100 or call on the new helpline numbers: 8128369100 and 8128308100 to seek help before taking any drastic step driven by reasons related to studies, career, family, profession, or anything else. Those who are aware of their friends, relatives, or acquaintances having such thoughts have also been requested to call on these numbers.
Surat Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut had around three months ago assigned two Deputy Commissioners of Police and their teams the task to investigate into deaths by suicide reported in the city over the last three years, and find out as to what had driven the people to end their lives. The purpose was to detect areas and regions, which reported the highest number of such deaths and the reasons behind them so that expert counsellors could be dispatched to those locations and an awareness drive could be carried out.
Sharing details of the report, Gahlaut said, “After analysing the data of around 8,000 deaths in the last three years, it was found that 1,866 cases were of deaths by suicide. As many as 490 deaths (26.3 per cent) were driven by family issues, followed by 452 deaths due to physical illness (24 per cent), 355 deaths (19 per cent) due to financial issues or debts, 104 deaths (5.6 percent) due to relationship issues, 200 deaths (10.16 percent) due to career-related and other issues. Also in case of 37 deaths (2 per cent), the deceased were victims of cybercrime or blackmailing; and 228 (12.2 percent) were suffering from depression.”
As per the report of the study carried out by the police department, in Surat, Zone 1 tops with 496 deaths by suicide — including 103 in Varachha (police station area), 103 in Kapodara, 152 in Sarthana. Notably, several people working in the diamond industry, which has been reeling under recession since more than two years, reside in Varachha, Kapodara, and Sarthana.
In Zone 2, Limbayat reported 175 deaths by suicide; Zone 3 has Chowk bazaar with 99 such deaths; Zone 4 has Umra at 53; and Zone 5 has Rander at 111, and Amroli at 108 such deaths. In Zone 6, Sachin GIDC saw 70 deaths by suicide and Sachin stood at 56.
Addressing the media on Monday afternoon, Gahlaut said, “The study reports contain the places, reasons, and highest number of deaths… we have started a helpline to prevent such incidents in the city. Once a call is received, necessary guidance will be provided by a psychological consultant or our trained police officers. This helpline will be operational round the clock at the police control room. Even if the caller is a relative or a friend of the person who is about to die by suicide, the police will make every effort and send the nearest officers to the spot and counsel them. We have also hired trained psychologists who will talk to the person with such intentions or personally visit and counsel him or her once. Regular and timely follow-ups with such individuals will also be conducted by the police.”
Sources said that the PCR van incharge and police station inspectors or police station operators will remain in touch with the counsellors and the team.
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