The Education Ministry has designated this Friday as a day of awareness on suicides for all nine hundred schools.

Minister Dr. Mahendra Reddy says students need to be more involved and the ministry is being proactive.
The Ministry wants to collaborate with parents, teachers, school committees, community and religious leaders for guidance and nurturing of students.

“Students have been informed today they’ll be informed by the teachers, that Friday they’ll need to prepare about discussing how suicide destroys communities, destroys societies, destroys families, and why it is a complete no no in terms of them engaging in or getting in groups and kind of encouraging others to commit suicide.”

Dr Reddy says while there will be no classes on Friday – instead teachers and students will spend the day talking about suicides and how to prevent self-harm.

As part of this campaign, students, teachers and even staff from the Education Ministry will take a pledge that they value life, will never attempt self harm.

Children will also be encouraged to overcome any reluctance to share their problems or isolate themselves from the community.