The district panchayat plans to undertake mental health-focused projects in the tribal regions of the district, which has seen a rising number of suicides in recent months.
The decision was made after a visit by District Panchayat President D. Suresh Kumar, Vice President A. Shailaja Beegum and members of the steering committee to the Vithura and Nandiyode panchayats, which have witnessed five suicides of girls in the last three months. The team visited the homes of the five victims and spoke with their relatives.
long term relief
“We have decided to have more projects to address mental health issues in tribal areas in next year’s plan. We already have several initiatives, including think tanks and advisory mechanisms, in these regions. But more needs to be done. Those facing various problems should be able to approach counseling centers and get support that helps them in the long run, rather than immediate relief. We spoke with the relatives of all these victims and they raised several complaints, including the influence of the drug mafia. All of this will have to be addressed,” said Mr. Suresh Kumar.
drug network
Most of the suicide cases have been of girls, even minors, with decent academic records. Some of them have been found to be victims of sexual abuse by non-tribal youth. Arrests have been made on charges of complicity in suicide in some cases. Some of the non-tribal youth charged in these cases are also reportedly part of drug distribution networks in these regions. The district panchayat is planning measures, including awareness programs, to ensure that tribal youth are not victims of such networks. Identifying those facing various problems and providing them with advice at an early stage has been a challenge for those working on the ground in these areas.
