Maharashtra Government Enlists Health Workers to Prevent Farmers’ Suicides

The state health department of Maharashtra, India is initiating steps to prevent the increasing number of suicides of farmers. The department will start a counseling program for farmers who show signs of depression and provide immediate treatment.

Some of the reasons that push farmers to take the drastic step of suicide are indebtedness, loss of crop and chronic illness of family members.

Deepak Sawant, State Health Minister, said that Anganwadi and ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists) health workers will identify such families who will be counseled by trained psychiatrists and psychologists.

Sawant said, "Osmanabad and Yavatmal are the two districts with the highest number of suicides recorded in past few years. The teams will identify families with piled up debt, chronic illness and loss of crop and information about these families will be handed over to doctors at public health centers."

Many farmers are indebted because of chronic ailments of their family members, such families will be brought under Rajiv Gandhi Jeevandayi Yojana that will provide treatment free of charge said Sawant.



Source: Medindia