------------------------------------------------------------------- Do GOACAN a favour, circulate this email to your family members, relatives, neighbours and friends. Help CITIZENS to be informed about the importance of MENTAL HEALTH in Goa. ------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN calls for an Action Plan to address Suicides in Goa in the context of the impact of the lock down and COVID-19, writes to Director Health Services Dr. Jose De Sa ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN has written to the Director of Health Services Dr. Jose De Sa expressing deep concern over the 8 suicides reported in the last 40 days in the local newspapers and has called for an Action Plan to address Suicides in Goa in the context of the impact of the lock down and COVID-19.
In its letter GOACAN has stated that from newspapers in Goa, it has documented through its Goa-Suicide-Watch, a minimum of 8 suicides from 22nd March to 30th April which is one suicide every five days. While these suicides were reported from the Talukas of Bicholim, Bardez, Salcete and Canacona, GOACAN has stated that it is also aware that not all suicides that have occurred during this period have been reported in newspapers. GOACAN is of the view that there must be an Action Plan which needs to be drawn up through a multi-sectoral consultation that will see the involvement of NGOs, Educational Institutions, Professionals and Government Departments. GOACAN has pointed out that if this Action Plan is to be effective, it is important that there is synergy among the various departments like Health Services, Education, Higher Education,Technical Education, Women & Child Development, Social Welfare and Labour, so that the maximum benefit is achieved of the facilities, schemes and taluka level outreach. It has also stated that Goa Medical College, the District Hospitals, Institute of Psychiatry & Human Behaviour and Institute of Nursing Education need to be important partners in preparing components of the Action Plan. While the lock down will end and business & social life will get active again, GOACAN has stated that it is well aware that there will now be the "New Normal". The letter points out, that worries about loss of wages, lack of job security, inability to explain the long phone calls, internet chats & friendships, missing regular campus life, sudden arrival of family members from overseas, additional pressures on caregivers etc. is taking its toll on people in Goa. GOACAN has stated that a study of the circumstances in which these 8 suicides have occurred, will itself identify some key factors, point in the direction in which interventions need to be made and also help further develop the stages of the Action Plan. The letter has also highlighted that the Action Plan must take into account the preparation of the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) for 2020-21 by the Village Development Committees (VDCs) of the 191 Village Panchayats as now they have access to funds from the Central Govt. Effective citizen participation can also be ensured through the involvement of the Village Health, Sanitation & Nutrition Committee (VHSNC) and the Village Child Committees (VCC) at the Panchayat level, the UMEED Day Care Centres in the towns and the Senior Citizen Volunteers of every Police Station. The letter further states that GOACAN is convinced that if the Government of Goa acts quickly, it will be able to implement the Action Plan effectively by the time the World Suicide Prevention Day (10th September) and World Mental Health Day (10th October) is observed. Copies of the letter have been sent to the Chief Secretary, Secretaries Health, Education, Women & Child Development and Social Welfare, the respective District Collectors, Labour Commissioner, Directors of Social Welfare, Women & Child Development, Panchayats, Municipal Administration and the DGP of Goa Police. ----------------------------------------------------------------- This GOACAN letter was sent to the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) on 30th April 2020 -----------------------------------------------------------------