By Mukesh 
A meeting convened by Palakkad District Collector M.S. Madhavikutty to discuss suicidal tendencies among children has called for a multi-pronged approach to address the issue.
The remedies suggested included stronger parental training, better student support systems, and inter-departmental coordination. A district-level special action plan to streamline prevention efforts will be developed.
Ms. Madhavikutty stressed the need for structured training programmes for parents to help identify early warning signs and provide timely emotional and psychological support to children.
The meeting, which brought together representatives from different government departments, also emphasised the importance of strengthening mental health interventions in schools.
Participants suggested that students themselves could be engaged in the initiative through the identification and training of volunteers and peer trainers, who could play a supportive role within the school ecosystem.
District Panchayat president T.M. Sasi said that plans were afoot to deploy around 100 counsellors, including existing professionals, across schools in the district under a special initiative of the District Panchayat.
Strict confidentiality
Proposals were also discussed to create dedicated counselling spaces in schools while ensuring strict confidentiality for students seeking support.
Other suggestions included launching a mass awareness campaign involving multiple stakeholders, forming special intervention teams at the block level under the Local Self Government department, and involving college students through internship programmes.
Child Rights Commission member K.K. Shaju presented a proposal outlining preventive measures.
Child Rights Commission member P. Shajesh Bhaskar, Child Welfare Committee chairperson Sethumadhavan, members of the Child Welfare Committee, and officials from the Education, Excise, Police, Women and Child Development, Local Self Government and Health departments attended the meeting.