This document provides information about a gate-keeper training programme on mental health and suicide prevention. It discusses that over 700,000 people die by suicide each year, with many more attempting suicide. The training aims to equip individuals with skills to respond to those in emotional distress or who may be suicidal. It defines gate-keepers as anyone who can help channelize thoughts and behaviors, such as teachers, parents, or counselors. The purpose is to identify at-risk individuals, assess suicidal risk, provide immediate intervention, and mobilize community resources. Vulnerable groups include those with substance abuse issues or experiencing discrimination. Common suicide methods include pesticides and hanging. Prevention requires limiting access to means, responsible media reporting, and multise

1. Gate – keeper training programme on mental
health
(Under the initiative of West Bengal University of Health
Sciences)
Training Date – 01/03/2023
Trainer – Dr. Diptangshu Roychowdhury (Senior resident, Department
of Psychiatry, Shri Ramkrishna Institute of Medical Sciences & Sanaka
Hospitals)
Training Institute – Royal College of Nursing, Banscopa, Gopalpur,
Durgapur

2. WHO Factsheet
• More than 700 000 people die due to suicide every year.
• For every suicide there are many more people who attempt suicide. A
prior suicide attempt is the single most important risk factor for
suicide in the general population.
• Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15-29 year-olds.
• 77% of global suicides occur in low- and middle-income countries.

3. Introduction
• WHO recommended suicide prevention strategy.
• Aims to equip individuals with skills to be a first responder for someone
in emotional distress and potentially suicidal.

4. Concept
Gatekeeper –
• Any individual who opens the gates or channelizes thoughts, emotions
and behaviors of another individual in emotional distress.

5. Who is a gate – keeper?
• Someone who believes that suicide can be prevented at the community
level and is willing to give time and energy for this cause.
• Could be teachers, parents, hostel wardens, police or lay counselors.

6. Purpose
• In identifying persons at risk for suicide
• Assessing suicidal risk
• Immediate intervention for suicidality
• Signposting

7. • Resource mobilization in the community
• Discussing difficulties of the participants in suicide risk assessment and
interventions
• Imparting hands on skills

8. Who is at risk?
• Substance abusers, in moments of crisis with a breakdown in the ability
to deal with life stresses, such as financial problems, relationship break-
up or chronic pain and illness, experiencing conflict, disaster, violence,
abuse, or loss and a sense of isolation.
• Most vulnerable groups who experience discrimination, such as refugees
and migrants; indigenous peoples; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,
intersex (LGBTI) persons; and prisoners.

9. Manifestations

10. Methods of suicide
• Around 20% of global suicides are due to pesticide self-poisoning, most of
which occur in rural agricultural areas in low- and middle-income
countries.
• Other common methods are hanging and firearms.

11. Prevention and control
• Limit access to the means of suicide (e.g. pesticides, firearms, certain
medications)
• Interact with the media for responsible reporting of suicide
• Foster socio-emotional life skills in adolescents

12. • Early identification, assessment, management and follow up
• Situation analysis, awareness raising, capacity building, financing,
surveillance, monitoring and evaluation
• Multisectoral collaboration such as education, labor, agriculture,
business, justice, law, defence, politics, and the media

13. Challenges and obstacles
• Stigma and taboo: -
• Stigma, particularly means many people thinking of taking their own life
or who have attempted suicide are not seeking help and are therefore
not getting the help they need.
• The prevention of suicide has not been adequately addressed due to a
lack of awareness of suicide as a major public health problem and the
taboo in many societies to openly discuss it.

15. Thank You