World Suicide Prevention Day: FJWU Launched Country's First National Centre for Research on Suicide Prevention

Fatima Jinnah Women University upholds the vision “to aspire and innovate for a sustainable future by promoting higher education, research, collaboration and community engagement to achieve societal empowerment”. Standing with the visionary statement, Fatima Jinnah Women University marked the observance of World Suicide Prevention Day in collaboration with Pakistan Institute of Living and Learning, Secretariat Parliamentary Task Force on SDGs, and Global Mental Health Research Group, University of Manchester, UK. On the Day and declaring a call of action, Mr. Riaz Fatyana (MNA/ Convener National Parliamentary Taskforce on SDGs) launched Country’s first National Centre of Research on Suicide Prevention at Fatima Jinnah Women University. The Centre is established in collaboration with Pakistan Institute of Living and Learning along with Global Mental Health Research Group, University of Manchester (United Kingdom) as allied partner. The Centre aims to provide research based information for informed policy making, preventing suicidal tendencies and promoting the promotion of healthy responsible behaviors in the society.

Highlighting the importance of Suicide Prevention Day, Dr. Saima Hamid, Vice Chancellor Fatima Jinnah Women University, Prof Nasim Chaudhry (CEO Pakistan Institute of Living and Learning), Prof. Dr. Nusrat Hussain (Professor of Psychiatry, Director Research Global Mental Health, at the University of Manchester, United Kingdom), Prof. Imran Bashir Chaudhry (Chairman Dept of Psychiatry, Ziauddin Hospital, Karachi), and Dr Aneela Maqsood (Head of Dept of Behavioral Sciences, Fatima Jinnah Women University) deliberated on the importance of the preventive measures for reducing suicide rate in Pakistan.

Dr Saima Hamid highlighted that suicide is preventable if a holistic approach is taken by considering biological, psychological and social factors. There is a dire need to initiate the preventive measures with the help of academicians, researchers, clinicians and mental health professionals. The establishment of National Centre for Research on Suicide Prevention at Fatima Jinnah Women University is a very timely step. Fatima Jinnah Women University is determined to concentrate on mental health research in multiple areas and to provide mental health services to the nation. The Centre will rightly serve as a platform to connect the organizations working on mental wellbeing, and particularly on suicide prevention at national at international level. It will provide a forum for academics, mental health professionals, crisis workers, volunteers and suicide survivors to serve the cause of humanity. As vote of thanks, Dr. Aneela Maqsood acknowledged Mr. Riaz Fatyana for his efforts and continuous support and commitment in achieving the agenda of mental health promotion in Pakistan. Dr. Maqsood highlighted the need for building coordination between academic institutes and policy makers to have a long term impact on development.




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