Social care for preventing suicides underscored

City Desk :
Social conscientiousness should be stimulated for preventing suicide and this social problem can also be mitigated by social care and also by corporate social responsibility in helping students and youth, said mental health experts and academics at a seminar held at the University of Dhaka.

They pointed out that tens of thousands of youths and students, even in the universities and higher education institutions, struggle with problems of life and livelihoods that hinder their studies and push into serious frustration and suicides also.

Speakers at the seminar suggested that if suicide is recognized as a mental health issue and a social problem rather than a crime, these incidents can be reduced in society.

The ‘right to suicide’ should not be taken for granted; at the same time, it should not be neglected.

Suicide prevention requires spreading awareness and spreading hope through action.

“Mental weakness is nothing abnormal but measures should be taken to reduce mental stress and weakness of the students and youths as they are future of the nation,” Prof. Akhtaruzzaman, the Vice-Chancellor and Chief Guest at the seminar held at Senate Building on Thursday.

The Dhaka University Alumni Association (DUAA) and the university’s Student Guidance and Counseling Office jointly organized the seminar, presided over by the DUAA president Anwar-ul-Alam Chowdhury Parvez. DUAA members, teachers and students of different faculties of Dhaka University attended the seminar.

The VC informed that for helping students in mental health problems, the DU administration has appointed a counselor in each dormitory of female students and such support will be given in the male dormitories soon.

DUAA President Anwar-ul-Alam Chowdhury Parvez told the students that if they can dream, they will have the desire to live, but they have to focus on your work.

“Do not put your dream in a complex situation and competition.

Belief in God can keep people away from depression,” Parvez said.

“Even the small misunderstanding should not be remembered for long and such practice can lessen frustration and prevent provocation to committing suicide and lead to a beautiful life.”