Perturbed by the series of death cases that appeared across various districts of Gujarat, Ahmedabad Police Commissioner, Sanjay Srivastava said that a special team of psychologists and counsellors has been formed in consultation with the expert to combat suicide cases. The spat of suicides that took place among police employees has made the top echelons of the police hierarchy take notice and look for ways to address the issue.
While conveying his grief the Ahmedabad Police Commissioner Sanjay Srivastava stressed that the police personnel needs to rise above all adversities and must accept that “suicide can never be a solution to any problem.”
Recently, a female constable Poojaben died of suicide in Valsad district, whereas a male constable Kuldipsinh Yadav, posted at the Vastrapur police station in Ahmedabad died of suicide by jumping from the 12th floor of an apartment along with his wife and three-year-old kid,< In his suicide note he had mentioned among other things his dissatisfaction over the execution of Gujarat Government’s recent announcement on the pay-hike of a police constabulary.
Poojaben had joined the police department at Valsad City Police Station sometime back. Her body was found on Valsad’s Tithal beach. The reason for her death was not yet clear. It is believed that she took her life because of some personal issues.
“We are deeply saddened by her (Poojaben’s) death. The investigation is underway. Poojaben was a cheerful person, used to treat people well, and a great problem solver,” said Valsad SP, Rajdeep Singh Jhala.
Speaking to Vibes of India, Sanjay Srivastava said, “This tragic incident is heart-breaking. It cannot be denied that the policemen are working under stressful conditions. But I must say that policemen are not given any kind of pressure.”
In case of any problem being faced by the police personnel or any of their family members, they must report immediately to the higher authorities. In case, the issues are unattended then the police personnel must try to convey their problems to their seniors.
To safeguard the safety and wellness of the police force, the city police commissioner and his team have come up with measures to ensure that the policemen remain stress-free and their issues are resolved immediately. A related event will soon be arranged by the police department to promote their mental and physical well-being.
According to the World Health Organisation, every year, nearly 703 000 people take their own life and there are many more people who attempt suicide. Every suicide is a tragedy that affects families, communities and entire countries and has long-lasting effects on the people left behind. Suicide occurs throughout the lifespan and was the fourth leading cause of death among 15-29 year-olds globally in 2019.
Suicide does not just occur in high-income countries, but is a global phenomenon in all regions of the world. In fact, over 77 per cent of global suicides occurred in low- and middle-income countries in 2019, as stated by the WHO.
Suicide is a serious public health problem; however, suicides are preventable with timely, evidence-based and often low-cost interventions. For national responses to be effective, a comprehensive multi-sectorial suicide prevention strategy is needed.
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