Media Release

Mangaluru, Sep 15: Under the joint auspices of the Dakshina Kannada District Legal Services Authority, district administration, zilla panchayat, department of health and family welfare, and District Mental Health Programme, Srinivas Institute of Nursing Sciences and A Shama Rao Nursing School, Valachil, organized the World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10.

The programme was inaugurated by lighting the lamp by the chief guest Jaibunnisa, senior civil judge and member secretary, Dakshina Kannada, Mangaluru. She urged the students saying, “Never lose hope in life, keep your mind healthy. Suicide is considered a crime under the law. The decisions you take during difficult times are very crucial.”

Dr H R Thimmaiah, district health and family welfare officer, spoke on the preciousness of life, inspiring nursing students with the motivational words of the late former president Dr A P J Abdul Kalam.

Dr C A Raghavendra Rao, chancellor of Srinivas University and president of A Shama Rao Foundation, presided over the function. He advised students not to lose confidence if they fail exams, saying, “Life is bigger, and one must strive to achieve success.”

Dr A Srinivas Rao, pro-chancellor of Srinivas University and vice-president of A Shama Rao Foundation, stressed the need for more research on suicide prevention in today’s competitive era and suggested the proper use of available technology to help reduce suicide rates.

The event was graced by Nanda Kumar M M (police inspector, DSP Unit, Dakshina Kannada), Dr Sudarshan C M (district mental health programme officer), Dr Aishwarya Bhat P (senior resident, department of psychiatry, Srinivas Medical College), Jyothi K Ulepadi (district health education officer, D K Mangaluru), and Prof Pradeep M (principal, Srinivas Institute of Nursing Sciences & A Shama Rao Nursing School, Valachil, Mangaluru).