Sneha- Suicide Prevention Organisation Launches SNEHA-SAS For People Who Have Lost Someone To Suicide

Chennai: SNEHA is a suicide prevention organization based in Chennai, India, We have been in existence for over 38 years now. We offer unconditional emotional support to people who are distressed, depressed and/or suicidal. SNEHA is open 365 days of the year and is run by a team of trained volunteers. Our services are completely free of charge.

(L to R) Founder Member Dr.Lakshmi Vijayakumar; President Dr.Nalli Kuppusamy,  Director M.C.Anand  

Sneha- Suicide Prevention Organisation today Launched SNEHA-SAS For People Who Have Lost Someone To Suicide in the presence of its President Dr.Nalli Kuppusamy, Founder Member Dr.Lakshmi Vijayakumar, Director M.C.Anand and Volunteers. 

Suicide Statistics: According to NCRB, in the year 2022, the number of suicides in India was 1,70,924. The rate of suicide is 12.4 which means that every day we lose around 450 persons by suicide in India. The suicide rate for Chennai and Tamil Nadu is reported as 18.2 and 25.9 respectively.

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It is also reported that for every person who died by suicide, a minimum of 7 persons, who are directly or indirectly connected to that person, are affected.

About Survivors: A 'suicide survivor' or 'survivor after suicide' is someone who has lost a near or loved one to suicide. This could be a family member, frliend or colleague.

The death of a loved one is never easy to experience. Several circumstances set death by suicide apart and make the grief process more challenging.

Survivors live with many emotions and feelings after losing someone to suicide. These emotions could be anger, anxiety, crying spells, fatigue, lack of energy, guilt, loneliness, pain, sadness, trouble sleeping, etc. It should be noted that survivors are also more prone to suicidal thoughts and Ideations.

About SNEHA-SAS: SNEHA -SAS is being launched specially to offer support to people who have lost someone close to them to suicide. SNEHA - SAS hopes to create an open space for such people, to enable them to talk openly and freely without any Inhibitions and to make them feel they are not alone in their grief.

How does SNEHA - SAS work: Two types of sessions are planned:

Group sessions: Sessions will be held once a month and will be facilitated by a volunteer. The participants can listen, talk, share their emotions, loss, and grief. They can also share what helped them cope with their loss.

Online sessions: SNEHA - SAS plans to have online meetings monthly for participants who may not be able to come to the center personally. These meetings will be facilitated by volunteers.

All information shared in the meetings will be held confidential.

SNEHA - SAS also plans to create a website to share stories or any other messages - poems, quotes, photos/video, stories of struggle or recovery - to name a few. Sharing experience will be a way to let others, who may in such a situation themselves, know that they are not alone.

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