Aasra - Helping people in despair

Supports people in distress, aiming to alleviate suffering and conducting workshops for high-risk groups

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About

  • Headquarters

    Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra

  • Since

    1953

Aasra operates as a unit within the umbrella of Befrienders Worldwide/Samaritans, firmly upholding a non-religious, non-political, and non-sectarian s Read moretance. It stands as a crisis intervention centre dedicated to aiding those afflicted by loneliness, distress, or suicidal thoughts. It proactively addresses and manages mental health concerns through the provision of voluntary, professional, and rigorously confidential care and support for individuals burdened by depression and despair. Its core objective centres on alleviating human suffering by offering active listening—a practice characterized by non-judgmental and non-critical listening to those grappling with anxiety and stress. It sees suicide attempts as messages of despair and endeavours to make its services available when such messages are conveyed. Whether through phone calls, in-person meetings, or written correspondence, it pledges a warm, caring, and empathetic response with complete confidentiality. It is important to note that the services provided do not serve as a substitute for medical care and do not claim to be therapeutic. Furthermore, Aasra's dedicated volunteers conduct workshops aimed at high-risk groups, including students and highly stressed employees in various sectors, ensuring that its outreach extends to individuals dealing with chronic suffering or terminal illnesses.

Impact

With an annual expenditure of Rs 200,000, and a dedicated team of over 7,570 volunteers, Aasra has reached out to and assisted over 800,010 individuals in need.

Programs

  • Suicide Awareness Workshops

    District

    AASRA's dedicated volunteers extend their services through Outreach programmes, reaching out to individuals who may contemplate ending their lives due to enduring suffering or terminal illnesses. Additionally, it collaborates with a network of various NGOs and professionals to provide comprehensive care to those in need. Its committed volunteers have conducted Suicide Awareness workshops, organised competitions and exhibitions, trained over 5,000 individuals from diverse backgrounds in the art of Befriending and Non-directive counselling, and equipped them with essential skills for providing active emotional support to those facing depression and suicidal thoughts. This training also covers topics such as HIV/AIDS awareness and effective first aid for prevention.

  • Helpline Programmes During Examinations

    District

    In an unwavering commitment to preventing suicides during high-stress examinations and result periods, AASRA volunteers have displayed exceptional dedication. They willingly dedicate their time and effort to man the helplines continuously, often for extended shifts lasting 12 to 24 hours, for a duration of up to 15 days. This selfless commitment ensures that individuals facing immense stress during these critical times have access to the support and assistance they need, contributing significantly to the well-being of those in distress.

  • Social Skills Workshop 1

    District

    Workshop 1 focuses on developing social skills, including communication, body language, active listening, and assertiveness. In the segment about body language, participants learn to distinguish between positive and negative body language in various contexts, such as conversations and receiving instructions or criticism from a supervisor. Active listening skills are explored through practice in role-play scenarios, and the workshop concludes with training on assertiveness, emphasizing the use of assertive statements to express oneself effectively in different role-play situations.

  • Social Skills Workshop 2

    District

    Workshop 2 addresses various aspects of social skills. It begins with a session on coping skills, offering interactive activities to identify personal and group stresses and teaching relaxation techniques. The next segment is focused on anger management, distinguishing between feelings and behaviours, and tracking anger through a journal. Conflict resolution techniques are explored in the following section, emphasizing different conflicts, appropriate resolution methods, and practical exercises. The workshop continues with coping skills training, covering relaxation activities, deep-breathing techniques, and self-instruction during role-plays. It concludes with a discussion of leisure skills and the benefits of meaningful outside activities, along with self-identified preferences.

Leadership Team

  • Rev. Chad Varah

M&E

  • Internal, External Assessors

    No

Policies

  • Ethics and Transparency Policies

    No

  • Formal CEO Oversight & Compensation Policy

    No

Political & Religious Declarations

  • On Affiliation if any

    No

  • On Deployment Bias if any

    No

Registration Details

  • Registration ID

    E 2047

  • FCRA

    Not Available

  • CSR Registration Number

    Not Available

Location

  • Headquarters

    104, Sunrise Arcade, Plot No. 100, Sector 16, Koparkhairane, Navi Mumbai, 400709

    Directions

Other Details

  • Type & Sub Type

    Non-profit
    Society