Chennai: Suicide prevention must be treated as a national priority anchored in compassion, early intervention and community support, former president Ram Nath Kovind said here on Wednesday.He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of Sneha Suicide Update 2026, an intiative marking 40 years of the Chennai-based suicide prevention organisation founded in 1986. He said NCRB data showed over 1.7 lakh suicides in 2023, including a sharp rise in student suicides over the past decade, and that the suicides were not mere statistics but “shattered families and lost potential”.
Calling for 24 by 7 helplines, counselling in schools and workplaces, responsible media reporting and stigma reduction, he said: “Sometimes saving a life does not require extraordinary power; it only requires human empathy.” Chairperson of National Human Rights Commission Justice V Ramasubramanian said India’s approach to suicide had evolved from criminalisation to recognising mental health as a key factor. “But legal reform alone was insufficient and must be complemented by stronger mental healthcare systems and greater awareness. The NHRC would focus more on this area while working with organisations such as Sneha,” he said. Sneha founder Dr Lakshmi Vijayakumar said the organisation was built on the belief that suicide is a cry for help and that emotional pain can be eased only through compassionate listening.
