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Through interactive sessions and counselling workshops, police officers are engaging students to address mental health stigma and highlight the importance of seeking help.
The campaign will be launched soon to educate students on emotional resilience and seeking support when in stress.(Representative Image)
After a series of suicides among college students in Odisha, the police have begun awareness programs in various educational institutions in the northern and western parts of the state, according to PTI.
The state’s Higher Education Department is also planning to launch a campaign in all colleges and universities across the state to tackle the increasing suicide rates among young people.
In the past four weeks, four women, three of whom were college students, allegedly died by suicide in the state.
“Creating awareness among the students, particularly women, is also our responsibility. We launched awareness campaigns across colleges in Sambalpur, Bargarh, Bolangir, Jharsuguda and Sonepur districts,” Northern range IG Himanshu Lal told PTI over the phone.
Lal mentioned that the awareness campaign includes real-life stories, expert advice from psychologists, and information on helplines and counselling services available to students.
He said they have received tremendous support from students, parents, and local residents.
During the campaign on Tuesday and Wednesday, officers from local police stations visited colleges and assured students that the police personnel are always there for them.
The students were informed about the existing laws and how to address various issues instead of considering suicide, Lal said.
“In the process, I observed that the gap between the students and the police is declining. The students are getting familiar with the policemen and women and mustering courage to open up to police. This is a very positive sign that will help in reducing the rate of suicides among students,” Lal said.
Similarly, under the guidance of DIG Eastern Range, Satyajit Naik, a group of police personnel visited Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in Balasore on Tuesday and launched a mental health awareness programme.
“August 12 was chosen to hold the awareness programme at FM College because exactly one month ago, a second-year female student of the Integrated BEd department resorted to self-immolation and died two days later. This was essential for the police to start mental health awareness campaign from FM College,” a DSP rank officer said.
Nayak mentioned that the initiative underscores the significance of seeking help and support during challenging times, fostering a community that values mental health and well-being. He stated that the event aimed to cultivate a culture of support and care, encouraging individuals to prioritise their mental health.
According to another officer, the campaign, led by committed police officers, seeks to educate female students about the critical issues of suicide and self-immolation, promoting resilience, awareness, and access to support systems. The programmes are being conducted in collaboration with educational institutions.
“Our aim is to make the female students mentally strong, learn to fight with knowledge in law, coping strategies, and resources to navigate emotional and psychological challenges,” said a woman police officer.
Through interactive sessions and counselling workshops, police officers are engaging with students to tackle mental health stigma, encourage open conversations, and underline the importance of seeking help during tough times.
These efforts also focus on building self-esteem, managing stress, and fostering a sense of community to prevent feelings of isolation, Lal stated.
Additionally, Odisha’s Higher Education Minister Suryabanshi Suraj mentioned that the department’s initiative under the Shaktishree scheme aims to promote mental well-being among students and prevent them from taking drastic actions during challenging periods.
The campaign, set to launch soon, will educate students on emotional resilience and seeking support when stressed. It will also promote a supportive environment, encouraging peers, teachers, and parents to assist those in distress, he added.
DISCLAIMER: If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata)
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