Cops’ attempt to save suicidal youth is heartening

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In a particular heartening piece of news, the Mumbai Police said recently that the Gamdevi cops successfully saved the life of a young man, who had announced his intent to die by suicide.

The Gamdevi police officials had received information that a youth was allegedly attempting to end his life at a hotel in south Mumbai and had told his friend about his intentions.

Quick action followed with multiple beat marshals trying to trace the man. In a well-oiled team effort, they track him down and managed to talk him out of it. He was also taken to a hospital for some medical aid and counselling.

The incident shows that the mental health aspect really resonated with the police and they acted with alacrity and sound logic. The situation was not dismissed flippantly. When somebody announces their intent to die by suicide, it must be taken seriously. There must be intervention and there must be help. The cops have acted correctly, and mental health lessons, the dangers of dismissive attitudes and making somebody's problems seem insignificant can be highlighted by this.

If the pandemic taught us something, it was stress on our mental states and psychological well-being. This is truly being put into practice and that too, by our authorities, which is stellar. Full marks to the friend who did not keep the information to herself but actually passed it on, sparking a chain of events that has saved a life.

Now, the family or well-wishers must ensure that the conflict is resolved and there is access to expert counselling for as long as needed. We must remember in such cases, individuals can be vulnerable for very long (in the West, people are put on suicide watch) and therefore we must react appropriately.