Bhubaneswar: The Department of Psychology, Utkal University is observing Suicide Prevention Awareness Week from September 10-16, 2023.
The event is being supported by World Bank-Odisha Higher Education Programme for Excellence and Equity (WB-OHEPEE), Utkal University. Creating hope through action, the theme of this event, emphasises the fact that we can all create hope through action and be the light.
The Chief Guest of the inaugural function, Vice-Chancellor Utkal University Prof Sabita Acharya, encouraged all the students and stakeholders to become a part of this mental health awareness campaign and actively work towards suicide prevention. “Since every life is precious, every effort towards suicide prevention is praiseworthy,” she opined.
The Guest of Honour Prof Nigamananda Das, Director IQAC and Coordinator, WB-OHEPEE, Utkal University expressed concern over increasing rate of suicide among student population and encouraged everyone to create hope and support for each other when we need it the most.
On this occasion, the department is organising a skit competition as well as a poster competition among the students of Utkal University based on this theme. This will create community awareness in the campus regarding suicide menace.
The week-long observation began on World Suicide Prevention Day, i.e. September 9, 2023, with the release of a video in the digital media which was prepared by the students of Department of Psychology on the theme of farmers’ suicide to create awareness among the masses. A series of videos, made by students on various themes related to suicide prevention will continue to be uploaded this week.
A leaflet on suicide prevention, brought out by the Department of Psychology, Utkal University on this occasion and released by the Chief Guest, will be distributed in this week among all the stakeholders of the university to raise awareness on this issue.
PNN