WORLD SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY – 2023 “Creating Hope through Action”
September 13, 2023
Department of Psychiatric (Mental Health) Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing (MCON), MAHE (MANIPAL ACADEMY OF HIGHER EDUCATION), Manipal, in collaboration with Dr. A. V Baliga Memorial Hospital, organized a workshop for the college students of Udupi district on “Prevention of Suicide: Creating Peer Support System” on 11.09.2023 at MCON. Twenty-three students participated in this workshop. Dr Judith A. Noronha, Dean, MCON, Dr P V Bhandary, Medical Director, Dr A V Baliga Memorial Hospital, Doddanagudde and Dr Tessy Treesa Jose, Associate Dean and Head of the Department of Psychiatric Nursing, MCON, MAHE presided over the inaugural program of the workshop. The dignitaries emphasized the significance of the day, the impact of suicide on everyone’s life and the need to create awareness in our society. Experts from the field deliberated on topics like lay counselling, suicide myths & and facts, stress management, Question Persuade and Referral and peer communication. The workshop comprised activities such as role plays, demonstrations, and interactive sessions. Participants of the workshop expressed that such workshops are the need of the hour especially for young adults like them. The day was concluded with the distribution of certificates and feedback from the participants. A street play on the day’s theme was also performed by 2nd-year PBBSc nursing students at the outpatient department of Kasturba Hospital, Manipal between 9.30 am to 10.00 am. Around 85 people who attended the OPD benefitted from the street play and appreciated it.