Suicide Awareness Workshops

AASRA volunteers conduct workshops on different levels with high-risk target groups eg school, college students, highly-stressed employees of call centers, financial institutions, multinationals etc. AASRA volunteers have Outreach programs to reach out to the multitudes who may choose to end their lives because of chronic suffering or terminal illness. AASRA also networks with various other NGO's and professionals to provide consolidated care to the many who seek it's help.

AASRA volunteers have conducted Suicide Awareness (Foundation and Advanced) workshops, held Essay and poster competitions/Exhibitions in Schools and Colleges, trained over a 5000 volunteers from various walks of life in the art of Befriending/Non-directive counselling/Listening skills for providing active emotional support for the depressed and suicidal. These volunteers have also been imparted training on HIV/AIDS issues, First aid for effective prevention and many other related topics.

Running helpline during Examinations

As part of our initiative to prevent suicides during the high-stress periods of examinations and results, AASRA volunteers have selflessly manned the helpline for 12-24 hours stretches on a continuous basis for a 15 day stretch.

Workshop 1: Social Skills

Communication Skills:

Topic 1: Body Language
OBJECTIVES:

  • Identify the differences between good body language and bad body language during conversation.
  • Identify the differences between good body language and bad body language when taking instructions or receiving criticism from a supervisor
  • Practice good body language during a conversation.
  • Practice good body language while a supervisor is giving instructions or criticizing

Topic 2: Active Listening
OBJECTIVES:
  • Identify the skills of active listening.
  • Practice the skills during role-play situations

Topic 3: Assertiveness
OBJECTIVES:
  • Use assertive statements to express oneself in various role-plays.

Workshop 2: Social Skills

Topic 1: COPING SKILLS
A relaxing interactive workshop identifying personal and group stresses, available internal and external resources, and cognitive perception tools. Workshop will include discussion then practice of relaxation techniques. In addition, there will be a relaxation exercise which will help reduce stress.Objective: Managing thoughts and feelings through increasing coping skills. (Stress Managment)

Topic 2: Anger Management
Note: Anger that leads to physical violence is serious and needs appropriate intervention. An individual who exhibits behaviors that can lead to harm of another or property damage needs psychological services from a professional trained in anger management. This lesson can be used for those individuals whose anger management issues cause them problems (i.e., loss of a job) but do not cause significant harm to themselves or those around them.

Lesson 1: Identify Feelings
OBJECTIVES:

  • Identify at least three feelings or emotions.
  • Identify the difference between negative ("bad") emotions and negative behavior.

Lesson 2: Recognizing Anger
OBJECTIVES:
  • Identify at least three physiological responses that are cues that a person may be upset
  • Complete a daily "Anger Journal" for one week.

Topic 3: Conflict Resolution
OBJECTIVES:
  • Identify different conflicts a person has experienced.
  • Identify appropriate ways to resolve a conflict.
  • Practice the steps to resolve a conflict.

Topic 4: Coping Skills – relaxation
OBJECTIVES:
  • Make a list of at least five activities that they can do that will help them relax.
  • Demonstrate deep-breathing techniques.

Topic 5: Coping Skills – self-talk
OBJECTIVES:
  • Complete the steps to self-instruction training during role-plays.

Topic 6: Leisure Skills
OBJECTIVES:
  • Identify the benefits of having meaningful activities outside of work.
  • Use a newspaper to identify at least three activities in which you would like to participate.

Anniversary

AASRA has been celebrating its anniversary which falls on the 13th of September, World Suicide Prevention Day (13th September), Mental Health Week (October) in unique fashion with exhibitions on mental health awareness, open forums and discussions on suicide as a social ill, Seminars on Suicide prevention, Discourses on mental health and has also been involved in spreading awareness on the grave need for a mental health initiatives from the Government.

Awards and Citations

AASRA's unstinting efforts at alleviating human misery has been well appreciated and noted in the print media (English, Hindi, Marathi, Malayalam,Urdu, Gujarati and other language press from all over the country).

After ten years of consistent high quality service and as a culmination of outstanding efforts in the field of suicide prevention, in January, 2006, AASRA was awarded the Maharashtra Ratna Gaurav Puraskar, (awarded to NGO's, activists, personalities of repute) by the Shiv Sangram Pratisthan, devoted to pursuing, upholding and commending the ideals of Shivaji Maharaj.

AASRA volunteers accepted the award from noted social activist Ahilyabai Rangnekar and Minister of state for forests, Shri Babanrao Pachpute