Most people who have suicidal thoughts or feelings do not want to die. Unmanageable thoughts and emotions, a feeling of hopelessness, being worthless, and the stigma associated with it are some of the reasons that stop individuals from seeking help and then taking such extreme steps.

Statistics mark the situation in India. According to NMHS 2016, 6.0% of respondents have suicidal risk in a given period, with 0.9% of respondents falling into the high-risk category. The risk is estimated to be highest among the 40–49 age group and females. Unfortunately, the gap in services for suicide is very high too; more than 80% of people with suicidal risk do not receive services.

Therefore, it is very crucial that the public engage and be equipped with knowledge on the early identification of suicidal thoughts and feelings. Family members, friends, and colleagues can be great players in the early identification and prevention of suicide.

Who better than us can realize that a family member, a co-worker, or a friend studying together is not the same? There is something that we all can do to help. Learning how to spot signs and symptoms and how to act in a crisis situation may indeed save lives.

With mental health first aid training, we equip the public with information about suicide and mental illness, help them understand signs and symptoms, and build practical skills on how to approach crises with confidence until appropriate professional support is given.

We teach people to not be afraid to ask directly if there are suicidal thoughts and feelings. Asking directly gives a lot of relief to the person who is also afraid to talk about it and seek help. Stigma, myths, and beliefs, fear of losing status, jobs, and relationships, and a and a lack of understanding of mental health and ways to manage it are some of the obstacles to open communication on mental health problems.

Further, statistics suggest that there is a high incidence and risk of suicide among students, front-line staff like police and the army, and at the workplace at different levels of corporate.

We at Mental Health Firs Aid India believe that equipping organised groups and corporations with appropriate responses to mental health needs requires a robust and comprehensive intervention. The organized sector across the globe in 24 countries is continuously benefiting from mental health first aid training and expertise that is based on evidence and systematic research.

It is time we bust the myths and stigma, take proactive steps to educate ourselves on mental health problems, build open communication around them, and be ready to help.