The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : E-mail to the rescue of distressed

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Monday, Sep 19, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

E-mail to the rescue of distressed

R. Sujatha

E-LIFE LINE: A volunteer of SNEHA browses e-mail from people in distress. — Photo: S. Thanthoni

CHENNAI: Since going public with its e-mail ID on Monday, Chennai-based suicide prevention organisation, Sneha, has received at least two messages.

Three others emailed the organisation to "simply communicate what was troubling them." The e-mail service, help@snehaindia.org, was launched on September 10, on the occasion of World Suicide Prevention Day. As part of the programme, pamphlets were distributed in many parts of the city.

Apparently, the respondents were prompted by the greater confidentiality provided by the e-mail facility compared to making a call or writing a letter where the address has to be furnished to get a response. Sneha encourages help-seekers to share information on anything that could be a source of distress.

Some people "simply wanted to communicate," says P.V. Sankaranarayanan, director of the non-governmental organisation.

Mr. Sankaranarayanan says suicidal tendencies are often related to family problems. The tendency to commit suicide among men is found in the age group of 30-45 and among women in the age group of 15-29. "More than 20 per cent of the suicides in women happen in this age group."

The organisation has 40 volunteers to communicate with callers and sending e-mail. Sneha set up a camp near a community hall at Srinivasa Kuppam in Foreshore Estate in Chennai on January 21 to help residents to cope with the trauma of losing loved ones and being witness to the death of friends and relatives in the December 26 tsunami.

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