Puducherry: The Department of Social Work, Pondicherry University, in collaboration with the National Mental Health Programme and Indira Gandhi Government General Hospital & Post Graduate Institute (IGGH & PGI), Puducherry, successfully organized “Together for Tomorrow: A Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Awareness Event” to mark World Mental Health Day.

The programme, attended by 164 participants including MSW students, research scholars, faculty members, and visiting students and faculty from Christ College, Thrissur, aimed to raise awareness about mental health issues and suicide prevention.

Prof. P.B. Shankar Narayan, Head of the Department of Social Work, welcomed the dignitaries and participants, while Field Work Interns highlighted suicide as a global concern requiring urgent collective attention. The special addresses by Dr. Balan Ponmani Stephan and Dr. Aravindan emphasized the importance of preventive measures, timely support systems, and interventions to promote mental health. Prof. G. Chandhrika, Dean of the School of Social Sciences and International Studies, underlined the need for multi-level awareness and understanding of underlying causes.

The programme featured a skit by second-year MSW students depicting a counseling center, illustrating the importance of empathy and timely intervention. Interactive sessions led by Dr. Stephan and Dr. Aravindan covered individualized counseling approaches, epidemiological data, risk and protective factors, and strategies for acute psychiatric emergencies. A question-and-answer session allowed participants to clarify doubts and engage actively.

The initiative reaffirmed Pondicherry University and IGGH & PGI's commitment to mental health awareness and collaborative partnerships. The programme was financially supported by the National Mental Health Programme, IGGH & PGI, Puducherry, with Prof. A. Shahin Sultana coordinating the event.