On a typical English morning in 1953, Rev. Chad Varah received a call to perform the last rites of a person. Inquiries revealed that the deceased was a 13-year-old girl who, on attaining puberty, decided that she had a life-threatening disease and committed suicide. Shaken by the incident, the priest displayed his contact number around the neighbourhood asking the distressed and those contemplating suicide to speak to him so that he could help them overcome their problems.

What began as a voluntary organisation 37 years ago in that small neighbourhood has now extended to more than 40 countries and is known as 'Befrienders International'. Inspired by the story of Rev. Chad Varah, Dr. Lakshmi Vijaykumar, with a few volunteers, gave life to Sneha. The NGO is always on the alert, a help line for the unexpected caller or for the unexpected call. With a few volunteers, she gave life to Sneha, an NGO which keeps itself alert to help an unexpected caller or a correspondent get away from his intention to end his or her life.

"We always consider Sneha as a last line of defence," says its Director Ram, "before someone makes up his mind to kill himself. In truth, they are in the state of ambivalence, caught between a wish to live and a forced wish to die. All that they need is someone who can stand besides them and help them to get over their trauma. Yes, suicide is not actually a call for death, but it is a call for help," explains Ram. For a distressed person, Sneha offers friendliness, warmth, and non-judgmental support to overcome personal problems. "They can do this without paying any fee and maintaining anonymity. Functioning with around 50 volunteers, Sneha is open for anyone with no difference between caste, creed or nationality. "We are available from 8. 30 a.m. to 10 p.m. in our centre. Our volunteers are always ready to receive and talk to those in need of help. First, they would help them give up their suicidal thought and slowly offer them suggestions and strength to solve the problem which prompted them to contemplate suicide," says Ram.

He adds that there are 13 symptoms out of which some or at least one can be seen in a person who intends to end his life. Withdrawal symptom is the most common. Family history, earlier attempts, definite idea of how a suicide would be committed, tidying up of affairs, repeated talks of committing suicide, etc. Dependence on alcohol or drugs, painful physical illness and long sleep disturbance, isolation, broken relationships, etc., are also seen as symptoms. There are many reasons for a person to attempt to put an end to his life. But, most of them undergo severe depression and emotional turmoil. For those recovering from illness, usually the early period is vulnerable since they are emotionally down but fit enough to have a go with life," Ram says pointing out to the statistics, according to which, there are over 1, 00, 000 suicides every year in India. This amounts to 10 per cent of the worldwide figures.

The South alone has over 40, 000 cases of suicide every year excluding the attempts made. "That's why we always rush to help, if we get a distress call. This could be the last ditch attempt by the person to live," says Ram. He also warns that any person, who declares his intentions of ending his/her life, often means it, whereas the friends or family do not take it seriously. Another important task of Sneha is to train new volunteers. "Anyone above 20 and having proficiency in English and Tamil can join us. We give them three days of intensive training and put them at our centre for two weeks, after which they can become our volunteers," says Ram. Those who then become regulars to Sneha, have to spend four hours a day at the Sneha centre. According to Ram, they are expected to be warm, friendly, and empathetic to their clients. Financial and physical constraints restrict Sneha's work to within city limits. However, Ram says that the organisation is planning to conduct awareness programmes among the rural folk about the symptoms and ways of helping a person attempting suicide. "Time and again, we also visit colleges, schools and interact with the students on this topic. We also distribute pamphlets and brochures spreading the message," he says.

Sneha, as the name suggests, is a friendly reassurance and realisation for people to carry on in life. "In some cases, we refer our help seekers to other organisations who could possibly help them start their life again. For example, they may get help from those organisations in terms of finding employment or medical treatment. But for us giving the much needed emotional support is more important," Ram says. Surely, Sneha would show the purpose of human life, both for the volunteers and for everyone irrespective of their intentions to live or die.

L. Subramani

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