Companies dealing with suicide prevention

Trigger warning: mentions of suicide.

No matter what you're going through, there's always a way to overcome it. You're never alone and you don't have to deal with what you’re going through all by yourself, reach out to your loved ones, Aszist or anyone you trust.

One of the prime causes of death for young adults below the age of 30 is suicide, and this increases the risk of all our lives having a chance of encountering this at some point. It can be anybody around you and incidents can come up at any time, so it is important to be aware and spread this awareness about where you can go to get help. And while September, being the month about Suicide Awareness and Prevention, usually gives a lot of importance to this, it is a good time to get yourself and many others educated on the issue. These couple of organisations in India and out are good ways to help you get started or know where to turn to.

A widely known organisation that offers its services pan India is AASRA. Its main objective is to reduce the misery humans face by offering a helping hand, or rather an ear. They actively listen without offering their opinions or criticism to anyone. They are one of the few that recognise the distress that often leads to self-harmnon-governmental and potential suicide. Whatever is discussed between the caller is completely confidential and isn’t discussed outside of their centre. They are clear when they state that their services shouldn’t be mistaken for therapeutic advice or medical care.

An international organisation for suicide prevention that has based itself in 41 counties around the world is Befrienders International. It is a charity developing volunteer action that is known widely for the spread of awareness about suicide and it’s prevention. Another such organisation that is into helping with research is the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP). This is a non governmental organisation widely known for its dedication to preventing suicidal behaviour, alleviating its effects and working with suicide survivors and such.

The purpose of this piece is to give you an insight into the small fraction organisations and people who are there for you and who are willing to listen and lend a helping hand. Visiting the websites of such organisations can also help you become more aware of what the situation is like and how you can push to be the first domino that helps create a more understanding and aware society.

• Rea