The Richmond Fellowship Society (India) Lucknow Branch celebrated its 18th Annual Day function

TIL Desk Lucknow/ The Richmond Fellowship Society (India) Lucknow Branch celebrated its 18^th Annual Day function on 25^th March 2023 at IMA Hall, River Bank Colony, Lucknow. The Theme of the conference was ‘Suicide Prevention’. According to experts ‘Suicide’ is a preventable cause of loss of life.

It is estimated that world over every 40 second 1 person attempts suicide. Eight lakhs people lose their life annually and according to an estimated figure about One lakh sixty eight thousand people committed suicide in India in 2021.

Speaking on the occasion Dr. A. K. Agarwal, president RFS and Former HOD, Department of Psychiatry KGMU welcomed the guest and gave the presidential address. Dr. Shashi Rai Secretary of the organization presented the Annual report of the centre.

The esteemed speakers spoke on the theme of the conference and discussed the causes, warning signs, how it can be prevented and the legal aspects. They were of the view that ‘Suicide’ is a preventable cause of loss of life. According to Dr. Alok Bajpai, a consulting Psychiatrist, ‘Suicide is a learned behavior which can be manipulative act reinforced by number of environmental factors’. It is observed that usually a suicidal person is non-socialized. Some believe that suicide must be seen as a biological event caused by biological markers. Many psychiatric conditions and specific environmental precipitating events (Threat, stress, failure,  challenge and loss) also contribute in suicidal behavior.  Dr Divya Prasad, clinical psychologist also spoke on the subject according to her for each suicide, there are atleast 20 suicide attempts hence suicides are preventable and much can be done at individual, family and community level.

A souvenir was released on the occasion by the Chief Guest and Guest of Honor. The residents of Nav Uday Mansik Swasthaya Sansthan presented a vibrant cultural programme. Vote of thanks was proposed by Mr Alok Saxena, Treasurer RFI (I) Lucknow and Dr. L. K. Maheshwari, Vice president Manorogi Kalyan Sansthan and former V.C. BITS Pilani, Col Yadav was the master of Ceremonies and conducted the progamme.