INDIA: Seniors' group 'Jeevana' reaches out to those with suicidal tendencies

. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Kerala / Express Buzz / January 30, 2009 'Jeevana' - Life - inspired by ‘Maithri’ Friendship A group of senior citizens in the city have found a new objective in their sunset years, that of bringing people with suicide tendency back to normal life. The group, residing at Peroorkada, have launched a counselling centre - ‘Jeevana’ - for the purpose. It’s the Kochi-based ‘Maithri’, functioning in association with the International Association for Suicide Prevention and Befrienders International, that inspired the senior citizens to launch Jeevana in Thiruvananthapuram. K.M. Simon, a retired training college principal who had also been the national president of the All-India Institute of Counselling and Trance Analysis (ICTA) is the director of Jeevana. “We support people who are in an emotional crisis. We give them a patient hearing and help them to give vent to their sorrows,” Simon said. Jeevana offers its services free of cost. “Members of the family group give their time and contribute a small amount every month for this cause. The first challenge was to get an ideal place to start our centre. YMCA, Thiruvananthapuram has provided space for the centre on its campus,” Simon said. The counselling service would be available every afternoon. Simon says proper counselling helps four out of every five persons who had made a suicide attempt, and they could be dissuaded from future attempts to end their life. But in one case out of every five, the person cannot be saved because of refusal to speak to anyone about intentions. They silently end their life without giving any clue about their mental state, he said. There are 14 trained volunteers counselling people who come to the centre. Simon said they have approached organisations like the SNDP Yogam, NSS karayogams and also churches and mosques to persuade people to approach 'Jeevana' in their hour of crisis. Jeevana is planning to extend its service to people under treatment after a suicide attempt at the Medical College Hospital. Simon said people suffering from depression and emotional problems can phone in to speak to counsellors. Copyright © 2008 Express Buzz