Suicide Prevention India Foundation

Ssh…out is a campaign that breaks the silence surrounding suicide and self-harm, aiming to raise awareness, promote acceptance, and encourage action. Recognizing suicide as the most preventable form of death, the campaign focuses on talking about the problem, acknowledging its existence, and being aware of available help for positive change. It strives to promote help-seeking and help-giving behaviours for those impacted by suicide and self-harm. The themes covered include understanding suicide as a public health issue, learning to support someone who might be suicidal, and caring for oneself in such situations. Additionally, the campaign addresses self-harm as a common coping mechanism for emotional distress, providing insights on supporting others dealing with self-harm and managing one's own response to it.

Circle of Protection, in partnership with Instagram, is an initiative by SPIF to raise awareness about the mental health crisis faced by adolescents and young adults. The campaign addresses alarming statistics, including over 13,000 student suicides in 2021, indicating the urgent need for action. It aims to foster a conversation on protective factors that enhance self-care and prioritize mental well-being, such as personal attributes, skills, strengths, support from loved ones, and a supportive community. The campaign revolves around themes like protective factors, adverse childhood experiences (ACE), childhood trauma, and digital well-being, highlighting aspects in life, such as resilience, help-seeking, and social connectedness, proven to positively impact mental health.

The organisation's initiatives encompass a wide range of activities. It creates content to address mental health issues, offer suicide survivor stories, and share research findings. Education efforts target schools, colleges, workplaces, and society, promoting suicide awareness, prevention, and mental health self-care. It teaches individuals how to respond to those with suicidal thoughts through training, workshops, and gatekeeper programmes. Multimedia content is utilized to disseminate self-care knowledge and tackle depression, anxiety, and stress. Engaging with the Government, it advocates for a nationwide suicide prevention policy and a single toll-free helpline. With an integrated approach, the organisation strives to empower individuals, promote mental well-being, and create a supportive environment.