AIIMS resident doctors run a 'suicide' prevention page on social media

Owing to the increased number of suicide cases among medical college students and young doctors, some senior resident doctors of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have been running a 'suicide prevention initiative' on Facebook to help and guide the stressed-out doctors.

This initiative offers these young doctors free consultation to come out of their negativity or depression.

"No one can commit suicide if there is a visible way out. It is probably a decision taken in utter frustration when one is caught in a persistent trap like a blind alley. There could be a way out, but that victim does not see it, then you have to emerge as the rescuer. With a single suggestion, you could save that life," said Dr Ashutosh Kumar, Senior Researcher at AIIMS and the mastermind behind the initiative.

In a recent such incident, a 32-year-old medical student of the Index Medical College in Indore committed suicide because of the continued mental harassment due to unregulated fees hike in the college.

In a recent poll conducted by the team running this page, where 123 doctors voted, it was found that 84 per cent commit or think of committing suicide when they are emotionally disturbed, while only 16 per cent said they thought of it because they were lonely. The page currently has 2,000 members, all medical students.

According to Dr Kumar, every year two to three suicides take place in AIIMS. "I started this page in 2015 after one of my students committed suicide. I would ask all my fellow colleagues to take interest in their students and see if they are fine, but not many cared much. Through this platform, I have been receiving all kinds of requests. I believe when the victims find a place to share, or someone to talk to, they change their minds," added Dr Kumar.