Colleges ask KEM for help to prevent suicides
Jan 13, 2010 – HT
The recent spate of suicides has prompted several schools and colleges to seek professional help.
On Tuesday, another teenage suicide came to light — a Class 12 student in Malad allegedly hanged herself. The police suspect there was a “love angle” to the incident.
“We are flooded with demands from Mumbai schools and colleges to come up with a module to help prevent such suicidal tendencies,” said Dr Shubhangi Parker, head of psychiatry department at KEM hospital.
She did not wish to disclose all college names, but revealed Ruia College in Matunga was among them.
The hospital’s psychiatry department has started working on a programme that is expected to be ready by January end. “We are looking at developing separate modules for teachers, parents and students. Each group will be trained in the basics of psychiatry to enable them to identify depressive behaviour. This will help in early identification of the problem and subsequent treatment,” said Parker.
KEM hopes to tap students to help them identify signs of depression among peers. “Once the module is ready, we will conduct workshops with as many schools and colleges as possible,” said Parker.
“Personal counselling sessions with experts are necessary… with growing pressures, we are open to professional help,” said Dr Suhas Pednekar, principal of Ruia College.
week after planning an expert committee to set up an expert committee to find out the reasons for student suicides in the state, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has backtracked.
On Tuesday, Chavan said counselling was the best solution to stop the increasing number of student suicides induced by academics-related stress.
Last week, Chavan had said he contemplated forming an expert panel which would recommend ways to minimise stress, if any, that allegedly propels students to kill themselves.
Maharashtra has reported 15 student suicides in the last 10 days.
On Tuesday, another teenage suicide came to light — a Class 12 student in Malad allegedly hanged herself. The police suspect there was a “love angle” to the incident.
“We are flooded with demands from Mumbai schools and colleges to come up with a module to help prevent such suicidal tendencies,” said Dr Shubhangi Parker, head of psychiatry department at KEM hospital.
She did not wish to disclose all college names, but revealed Ruia College in Matunga was among them.
The hospital’s psychiatry department has started working on a programme that is expected to be ready by January end. “We are looking at developing separate modules for teachers, parents and students. Each group will be trained in the basics of psychiatry to enable them to identify depressive behaviour. This will help in early identification of the problem and subsequent treatment,” said Parker.
KEM hopes to tap students to help them identify signs of depression among peers. “Once the module is ready, we will conduct workshops with as many schools and colleges as possible,” said Parker.
“Personal counselling sessions with experts are necessary… with growing pressures, we are open to professional help,” said Dr Suhas Pednekar, principal of Ruia College.
week after planning an expert committee to set up an expert committee to find out the reasons for student suicides in the state, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has backtracked.
On Tuesday, Chavan said counselling was the best solution to stop the increasing number of student suicides induced by academics-related stress.
Last week, Chavan had said he contemplated forming an expert panel which would recommend ways to minimise stress, if any, that allegedly propels students to kill themselves. Maharashtra has reported 15 student suicides in the last 10 days.
source: http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/ArticleText.aspx?article=13_01_2010_001_012&kword=&mode=1