Rono Hills, Apr 3: With suicide being the second leading cause of death globally and to encourage the development of evidence-based interventions for suicide prevention, including interventions targeted at school and college students, has been taking place at the Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) since April 2024. A consultative cum review meeting of the ongoing project of ICMR titled ‘Multistate Implementation Research Study on Suicide Risk Reduction and Improving Mental Well-being among School and College Students’ was held at RGU today. The meeting was chaired by the Vice Chancellor of RGU, Prof. S.K Nayak. The other members present in the meeting were Dr. N.T. Rikam, Registrar RGU, Dr. David Pertin, Joint Registrar RGU, Dr Tarun Mene, Principal Investigator, Co-PIs – Dr. DharmeshwariLaurembam, Dr. Kakali Goswami, Dr. Amit Kumar and other research team members.
The meeting aimed to review the progress of the ongoing research study after one year of implementation in higher education institutes and schools in Papumpare district and ICR. The Co-PI, Dr Dharmeshwari Laurembam provided an overview of the study's project, and preliminary findings during the formative and iterative phase of the project. In his address, the VC emphasized the importance of the study, stating that "suicide prevention is a pressing concern that requires collaborative efforts from researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders." He encouraged the research team to continue their work and explore innovative solutions to address this critical issue.
The meeting concluded with a discussion on the next steps, timelines, and milestones for the study. The research team was encouraged to continue their work, with the VC assuring them of the university's support and resources. This study is expected to contribute significantly to the understanding of suicide risk reduction strategies in India specifically in the state of Arunachal Pradesh, ultimately informing policy and practice to save lives. (HS)

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
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