HYDERABAD: A counselling centre was inaugurated for students of the Osmania Medical College. This has followed close on the heels of the suicide of two students at the medical college in separate incidents.
However, the centre it is not fully functional yet. Services at the centre are offered only for three hours starting from 1 pm. Officials said that full fledged services would start only after a few days. On Wednesday afternoon, a clinical psychiatrist was not available there. Instead, academic papers were being evaluated.
On October 19, a 27-year-old B Sravani who was pursuing Post Graduation in Anaesthesia from OMC committed suicide by injecting saline mixed with anaesthesia. On October 25, 19-year-old Y Sai Kumar, MBBS first-year student at the college killed himself by jumping from the fifth-floor of his home at Nalgonda.
The two suicides spread anxiety among students of the college. Faculty members went to the students individually to assure them of support in case of crisis. However, till then, there was no formal structure where students could express their grievances or talk about distress they are facing.
Students of the college said that if a person is dedicated to speaking to students about their grievances, then those in depression or having suicidal tendencies can be attended to. After suicide of Sai Kumar, administration of the college hit the panic button as suicides were discussed by students and faculty alike.
“The counselling centre was inaugurated on October 31. Our doctors are speaking to students regularly. We are conducting programmes for fresher students to address depression and suicidal tendencies,” said Dr Aruna Ramaiah, principal of OMC.
As clinical psychiatrist has to come from Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Erragadda, they can be available from afternoon, said Dr Rama Subba Reddy, head of Psychiatry department at OMC.
“They come after completing their duties at IMH, Erragadda. The counselling centre will be open from 1 pm to 4 pm. Students can get counselled for their personal problems. I conducted a orientation session on anxiety, depression, for students,” Dr Subba Reddy said.
It is also learnt that academicians are waiting for promotions to assistant and associate professor posts, and thus the services are delayed.