Rono Hills, Apr 3: Suicide remains the second leading cause of death globally, highlighting the urgent need for evidence-based interventions, particularly among school and college students.
Since April 2024, Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) has been actively involved in such efforts through an ongoing research initiative. As part of this endeavor, a consultative cum review meeting for the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) project titled ‘Multistate Implementation Research Study on Suicide Risk Reduction and Improving Mental Well-being among School and College Students’ was held at the varsity on Thursday.
The meeting, chaired by RGU vice chancellor Prof S K Nayak, brought together key stakeholders, including RGU registrar Dr N T Rikam, joint registrar Dr David Pertin, principal investigator Dr Tarun Mene and other members of the research team.
The primary objective was to assess the progress of the research after one year of implementation across higher education institutions and schools in Papum Pare district and the Itanagar Capital Region (ICR).
During the meeting, co-principal investigator Dr Dharmeshwari Laurembam provided an overview of the study’s objectives and presented preliminary findings from the formative and iterative phase of the project.
The VC in his address underscored the significance of the study, emphasising that suicide prevention is a critical issue requiring coordinated efforts from researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders.
He encouraged the research team to continue their work and explore innovative solutions to mitigate suicide risks.
The meeting concluded with discussions on future steps, timelines, and milestones for the study.
The research team received assurances of continued institutional support and resources from the university.
The study is expected to provide valuable insights into suicide risk reduction strategies in India, particularly in Arunachal Pradesh, and contribute to the formulation of policies and practices aimed at saving lives.
