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BMC helpline flooded with SOS calls
MUMBAI: Within just about two days of being launched, the helpline started to counsel troubled minds harbouring suicidal tendencies received 150 calls till Saturday evening.
On Thursday, the BMC, along with Cyrus and Priya Vandrevala Foundation, launched the helpline, following a spate of suicides in the city over the past fortnight. Most of the callers were youngsters, said Dr Arun John, head of the foundation. The kids would speak about their trouble after they were assured that their identity would not be revealed, he said.
The BMC is apparently surprised at the flow of calls as officials are yet to publicise the helpline number on a massive sacle. Since Thursday, all that the BMC had managed to do were to hold a few sensitisation sessions and to organise seminars informing teachers of civic schools about the helpline. John reportedly had to double the number of counsellors to take the calls.
BMC’s director of health services Sanjay Oak said, “We thought if there was already a helpline in place, why not work in tandem? On Friday itself, there were more than 40 calls.”
The Powai-based helpline, which is open round the clock, is attended by qualified counsellors. If a counsellor finds it difficult to help, the line is transferred to a panel of psychiatrists. It is also roping in police and fire brigade personnel in case they have to rush to callers to stop them from taking their lives.