Activate helpline to check suicide: High Court

Shimla, August 29

Expressing concern over the sudden rise in suicide cases, the HP High Court has directed the state authorities to activate an anti-suicide helpline number within three weeks. It has directed the authorities to issue an advertisement in this regard and ensure that the public gets the message through media.

A Division Bench, comprising Justice Sureshwar Thakur and Justice CB Barowalia, passed this order on a petition filed by a law student, Tushar, seeking activation of a suicide prevention helpline number immediately. He urged the court that NGOs should be roped in for efficient handling of the helpline round the clock. He stated that efficient people having adequate knowledge should be hired for the purpose and they should also be given the support of psychiatrists, psychologists and other ancillary staff.

The court issued a notice to the state government and directed the authorities to file their response within six weeks and listed the matter for further hearing on October 15.

The petitioner contended that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many suicides were taking place. He stated the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, provided various provisions which dealt with the mental health and prevention of suicides. The petitioner further referred the provision of Section 29 of the Act, which specifically speaks about the duty of the government to plan, design and implement public health programmes to reduce suicides and suicide attempts in the country. — OC

Hire efficient people: Petitioner

The petioner has urged the court that NGOs should be roped in for efficient handling of the helpline round the clock. He stated that efficient people having adequate knowledge should be hired for the purpose and they should also be given the support of psychiatrists, psychologists and other ancillary staff.