Key Points

The Northern Range Police in Odisha has launched a suicide prevention campaign for college girls across five districts. The initiative includes mental health workshops, counseling, and helpline outreach. This comes after a tragic self-immolation case in Bargarh involving a 13-year-old girl. Authorities are urging community participation to create a safer environment for students.

Key Points: Northern Range Police Launch Suicide Prevention Drive for Odisha College Girls

  • Police-led mental health workshops target 5 Odisha districts
  • Interactive sessions and helpline info for students
  • Officials urge parents and colleges to collaborate
  • Recent Bargarh teen self-immolation case under investigation
2 min read

Northern Range police launch awareness drive for college girls on suicide & self-immolation prevention

Odisha police launch mental health awareness campaign in 5 districts to prevent suicides and self-immolation among college girls.

"Our government is working for girls' safety in schools... We will ensure such incidents don’t happen again - Nityananda Gond, Odisha Minister"

Sambalpur, August 13

The Northern Range Police in Odisha has initiated a suicide and self-immolation prevention drive across colleges in five districts, focusing on mental health awareness, resilience-building, and helpline outreach, with active participation from police officials, educators, and community members.

According to the statement, the five districts are Sambalpur, Bargarh, Bolangir, Jharsuguda, and Sonepur.

The initiative, led by the Inspector General (IG) of Northern Range and all district Superintendents of Police (SPs), features interactive sessions, counselling workshops, expert lectures, and information on available helpline services.

According to police officials, the campaign is designed to promote mental health awareness, encourage resilience, and motivate students to seek timely professional help.

The Northern Range Police has appealed to college administrations, parents, and community members to actively collaborate in building a safe and supportive environment for the youth.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Odisha Minister Nityananda Gond had clarified that the tragic death of a 13-year-old girl from Bargarh, who died after self-immolating, did not occur in school and the cause remains unclear.

He further emphasised the government's commitment to girls' safety in schools through Internal Complaint Committees and efforts to prevent such incidents in the future.

"The incident did not take place in the school. It happened behind her house. The reason for the same is not yet clear. Our government is working for the girls' safety in the schools. There are Internal Complaint Committees at the school levels... The government will make sure that such incidents don't take place in the future," he said.

On Monday, a 13-year-old girl died after she allegedly immolated herself in Odisha's Bargarh, police said.

The victim was admitted to a hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.

"Investigation is going on, and as per law, action will be taken. Three to four teams have been formed, and interrogation is underway... The girl has died and her postmortem is going on," said Inspector General (Northern Range), Himanshu Lal.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
While the awareness drive is good, why only focus on college girls? Boys also face mental health issues. The police should make this gender-neutral. Suicide prevention is important for everyone.
A
Ananya R
As someone from Sambalpur, I've seen how mental health is still a taboo here. The police initiative is brave, but will parents allow their daughters to attend these sessions? We need community awareness first.
V
Vikram M
The Bargarh case is heartbreaking 💔. Instead of just forming committees, schools should have full-time counselors. Police can't solve everything - education system needs reform too.
S
Sarah B
I appreciate the police effort, but will these be one-off events or sustained programs? Mental health support needs continuous engagement. Maybe they can train teachers as first responders.
K
Karthik V
Good step, but what about rural areas? Most self-immolation cases happen in villages where there are no colleges. Police should take this campaign to panchayats and high schools too.
N
Nisha Z
The helpline numbers should be displayed everywhere - bus stands, markets, even WhatsApp groups. Many girls don't know where to seek help. Police should use social media effectively for this.

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