Call us by the name of Anti Suicide Squad

Writ petition before the Himachal HC to establish an anti-suicide helpline 

- A database of non-virus deaths revealed a figure of 298 suicides between the month of March 26 and June 11 this year stating financial distress as a leading factor. 

- Concerned by the growing number of suicides in the state, Tushar Singh, a law student filed a plea before the Himachal Pradesh HC to establish a 24/7 Suicide Prevention Helpline Number.

- The plea was heard by Justices Sureshwar Thakur and Justice Chander Bhushan Barowalia who directed the state government to set up the helpline within three weeks.

- The HC also asked to publish the helpline in both English and Hindi newspapers through advertisement and through official platforms to reach out to maximum people.

More on the petition 

- The petitioner enforced that the government has failed to take steps to prevent suicides and more and more young members are taking their lives majorly due to unemployment.

- Due to lack of implementation of The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, the law student prayed to the Court to stress upon the need of Section 29 of the Act which deals with the duties of the appropriate government.

- Earlier, Advocate Sunil Kumar had urged the Delhi HC seeking setting up of counselling centres for people facing psychological and mental health issues due to COVID19 and lockdown.

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