Bhubaneswar: The Department of Psychology, Utkal University is observing Suicide Prevention Awareness week from 7th to 13thSeptember 2025. The event is being supported by RUSA 2.0, Utkal University. The theme identified for 2025 is ‘Changing the Narrative on Suicide’ with an associated call to action of: ‘Start the Conversation’.
Vice Chancellor Prof JagneshwarDandapat, who presided over the Inaugural function held on 10th September 2025 at the MKCG Auditorium, appealed to the student community to take initiatives for prevention of suicide.
The Chief Guest of the Inaugural function, Kali Prasanna Mohapatra, IAS, Director, Higher Education Department, Govt of Odisha encouraged all the students and stakeholders to become a part of this mental health awareness campaign and actively work towards suicide prevention. ‘Since every life is precious, every effort towards suicide prevention is praiseworthy ’, he opined.
Dr. Amrit Pattojoshi, Professor and Head, Department of Psychiatry, Hi-Tech Medical College and Hospital, Bhubaneswar graced the occasion as the Chief Speaker. He expressed concern over increasing rate of suicide among student population and encouraged everyone to create hope and support for each other when we need it most.
The Guest of Honour, Prof Mitali Chinara, Chairperson, PG Council, Utkal University, spoke regarding the measures adopted in Utkal University in the area of Mental Health. Prof B.N.Patra, Coordinator RUSA 2.0, Utkal University who also joined the Inaugural Meeting as the Guest of Honour, emphasized the priority of RUSA towards students’ mental health.
Prof Bhaswati Patnaik, Head of the Department, Psychology, Utkal University, delivered the welcome address and provided the details of the Programmes being planned for Suicide Prevention Awareness Week 2025 in Utkal University.The members of the organizing committee: Mrs Mousumi Sethy, Mrs Lucy Sonali Hembram and Mrs Sunanda Pattnaik were present on this occasion.
As a part of the suicide prevention awareness, the Department is organizing several activities spread over the week, such as, Community awareness programme, Workshop on Suicide Prevention, Campus awareness programme, Pop Quiz, Poster and Skit competition,and so on based on the theme of Suicide Prevention. This will help create awareness regarding the menace of suicide.
A leaflet on Suicide Prevention, brought out by the Department of Psychology, Utkal University on this occasion and released by the Chief Guest, will be distributed in this week among all the stakeholders of the University to raise awareness on this issue.
The students and faculty of Utkal University have supported this Programme wholeheartedly by their enthusiastic participation for making it a successful endeavor towards collective well- being. The function was attended by a good number of faculty, staff and students of the University.