BANGALORE: Child Rights Trust and Rehabilitation and Suicide Forum (RASF) on Sunday launched a ‘pledge card’ which would help volunteers who wish to assist people with suicidal symptoms.
Launched by freedom fighter H S Doreswamy, the pledge card has details of symptoms which a person might show when he or she is depressed and suicidal. Symptoms like sudden consumption of alcohol or tobacco products, a general disinterest in social life, extreme feelings of loneliness and avoiding social situations are listed on the card.
“Suicide has become a very critical condition and needs urgent attention. Every day, the numbers have been increasing,” Doreswamy said. He stated that suicide was not a personal issue and needs to be looked at as a social problem.
The pledge card also has details of helpline centres. Child Rights Trust and Rehabilitation and Suicide Forum representatives said that the current time of the year was particularly critical since many students were being driven to depression and long periods of stress owing to examinations and ensuing results. “We also encourage schools to consider issues like stress among students and monitor them. They should talk about it and hold counselling workshops instead of choosing to hush up the issue of suicide,” said a RASF representative.
The pledge cards will be available at the RASF offices on 6th floor, High Point 4 on Palace Road in the city.