India, with a high rate of suicides in the world, has to take several interventional measures to achieve the WHO target of reducing it by 10% in 2020, said Dr.Lakshmi Vijayakumar, consultant, WHO.

She was speaking at a CME on depression organised by Sri Ramachandra University in Chennai.

Even relieving a little amount of distress and angst of a depressed person can wean one away from suicide.  Apart from macro action to relieve distress of the people some focused interventions by NGO can do so much for reducing suicides.

SNEHA, an NGO in Khammam district in Tamil Nadu where people were persuaded to switch over to organic pesticide and in Kattumannarkoil where farmers were given secured lockers to keep pesticides have helped reduce suicides.  If a suicide prone person has a genuine friend to talk to many instances can be reduced.  SNEHA’s continued interaction with people who attempted suicides has helped in weaning them away, she added.  With a structured physical, mental and social activity for 45 minutes a day we can clear depression in many people, she said.

According to a WHO report on suicides, India has a very high incidence 15 per 100,000 population and the southern states high on the list.

Dr.K.V. Somasundaram, Dean of Faculties, Dr.P.V.Vijayaragvan, Dean, Education, Dr.R.Balakshrinan, HOD and Prof of Psychiatry Dr.R.Sathyanathan were among those who were present at the event.