Reaching the Suicidal in Rural Communities

Abstract

Discusses efforts to reach suicidal individuals in rural communities in Sri Lanka. The Sumithrayo Befrienders have been making efforts to overcome obstacles in reaching rural individuals by adapting traditional befriending to suit the local situation. For example, they have been visiting surrounding estates and villages on market days to display posters, distribute brochures, and offer open-air befriending. They have also instituted a regular program of hospital visits to meet with individuals recovering from suicide attempts. An added benefit of volunteers' visit to a village is that they are able to talk about suicide and suicide prevention with the curious who attach themselves to the volunteers as spectators and also invite the volunteers to hold awareness programs in the village. The author also describes an outreach and prevention program located in a test village and in keeping with local norms. Befrienders there have organized a series of monthly meetings in the test village; each meeting is focused on common problems and situations faced by villagers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)