Mysuru: Marking World Mental Health Day, Maharani’s Arts College and PG Centre had organised a special lecture on ‘Mental Health and Suicide Prevention’ at the college premises here this morning. A student counselling centre was also opened at the college.

Delivering the lecture after inaugurating the Counselling Centre, HoD of Psychiatry, K.R. Hospital Dr. B.N. Ravish opined that mental health was very important and observed that suicides were increasing in developed countries which is a dangerous trend.

He said, a good awareness should be developed among youth on how to handle failures without falling prey to temptation of suicide. He regretted that even children below 14 were ending lives and advised parents and teachers to counsel such mentally week children.

Speaking to SOM, Counselling Centre Counsellor Dr. B.P. Ashwini said that the centre would counsel the students of the college on social and academic problems. She added that rural students too would be made aware on importance of mental health and stability at NCC camps and on other occasions.

Internal Quality Assessment Committee Convenor Dr. Puttaraju, HoD of Psychology Dr. M.S. Manonmani, PG Centre Convenor Dr. Venugopal, College Principal Dr. B.T. Vijay, UoM HoD of Mental Health G. Venkatesh Kumar and others were present.