INDRAPRASTHA COLLEGE FOR WOMEN

UNIVERSITY OF DELHI

NATIONAL SERVICE SCHEME

99 years

REPORT ON NATIONAL CONSULTATION ON SUICIDE PREVENTION AND YOUTH IN INDIA

A National Consultation on Suicide Prevention and Youth in India took place on 4 th and 5th February,
2023 at the Deputy Chairman Hall, Constitution Club of India, New Delhi. The 2-day National Event
was hosted by the Mariwala Health Initiative and ETI Foundation, in collaboration with the Ministry
of Youth Affairs and Sports to consult young people between the ages of 18 and 30 years on suicide
prevention and mental health. 1 NSS Volunteer from Indraprastha College for Women had attended
the event. Mental health experts from across India and youth voices joined 4 different panels which
contributed in preparing a charter that had to be submitted to the Ministry. The event had begun
with registrations between 9:30 to 10 AM onwards on 4 th February. It was followed by an opening
plenary session that had addressed the mental health challenges for youth in India with a holistic
perspective. The chief guest for the event was Shri Vineet Jain, Additional Secretary, Ministry of
Education in India and addressed the audience with the speech. The Guest of Honour and other
special guests had also addressed the ceremony with their enlightening speeches. There was a short
tea break for the guest speakers and participants. After which, there were two events named
“chotha bachcha samjh ke-unique stressors faced by young people” and “Khel khel mein- sports and
mental health”. This whole series of events had talked about major causes of stress in young people
these days, suicide as a great problem, important helpline numbers for suicide prevention,
importance of sports for mental and physical well-being and therapy sessions. After the concluding
of these events, there was a lunch break between 1 to 2 PM. And finally, the other half of Day 1 of
the national event had witnessed many events which discussed majorly about creating inclusive
spaces, responsibilities of reporting on suicide in India and understanding the intimacies and their
impact on young people. After a short tea break, day 1 finally concluded on a good note with a
concert by Ms. Vidya Shah.

On Day 2, Students and participants were divided in different teams of 10-10 based on sectors like
educational, media, sports, family, individual, community, local healthcare, etc. everybody were
supposed to do brain storming on some relevant issues like what their sector could do in suicide
prevention, different strategies, stakeholders involved, etc. and one or two members from every
group showed their presentation. Students were also provided with charts on which they could write
about what exactly they had discussed in a gist. Finally, day 2 wrapped up successfully with a lunch
break in the end. This national event gave a different perspective to the youth on a sensitive and
most relevant issue “suicide prevention”.
AGENDA FOR THE EVENT
GLIMPSES OF THE EVENT