“The world is for all of us to live. Madurai Medical College students should be role models to break the stigma around mental illness,” A. Rathinavel, Dean of Government Rajaji Hospital and Madurai Medical College, said Monday.
He spoke at the launch of ‘Mananala Nal atharavu Mandram’ (MaNaM), a mental health club, at GRH as part of the World Suicide Prevention Day celebration. The health club is an initiative of the state government.
Dr. Rathinavel said that around 3,500 students currently study medicine at MMC. “It is highly commendable that our campus is 100% free of wrongdoing. Although studies are of paramount importance, we encourage our students to take part in extracurricular activities as well. We have strengthened our sports infrastructure, we recently opened a music club, etc., to provide a healthy and balanced environment for our students”, he remarked.
In addition, he launched an exclusive helpline for MMC students and congratulated the student empowerment committee volunteers called ‘peer ambassadors’ or “MaNaM Thoothuvars”.
“Around 75 peer ambassadors have been appointed, who are following courses in medicine, dentistry, nursing and paramedics, who will be trained in life skills and management techniques. It will help them identify students who are suffering in silence, especially from academic stress, especially students from rural areas who have difficulty adjusting to the city environment. As for the PG students, family problems are the ones that bother them the most,” said G. Amutha, Head of the Department (in charge) of Psychiatry. the hindu.
K. Karthik, an assistant professor in the department, stated that according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 12 people per 1 lakh commit suicide in India.
“The numbers are alarming, which is the result of the very prevalent stigma around mental health illnesses that is caused by ignorance. The main goal of the club would be to normalize seeking help when one’s mental health feels out of whack, similar to how we run to the doctor when experiencing physical ailments like toothaches and chest pains,” he said.
B. Vijay, a final year graduate student in psychiatry and one of the peer ambassadors, said the initiative would be beneficial to the student community and is a step forward in helping to break down the stigma around mental health.
Medical Superintendent S. Vijayaragavan, Deputy Director of the Madurai Medical College A. Dhanalakshmi, Director of the College of Nursing S. Rajamani, Director of the School of Nursing R. Azeeza Begum, professors and students were present.
Those in danger or suicidal can seek help and advice by calling the State Health Helpline 104 or the Chennai-based Sneha Suicide Prevention Helpline on 044-24640050.
