A study of urban self-harm, which is carried out within the N-Sprite (Ni-Sprite Prevention, Research, Implementation, Training and Angagement Center) in cooperation with the State Government registered 20,861 cases of self-harm in 16 government hospitals in 11 districts from August 2022 to 2025.
Of these, only 194 people (1.19%) were again listening to self -harm and 37 people (0.2%) died in this small group.
According to a study presented at an event organized on the World Summer Prevention Day and the first anniversary of the N-Sprite on Wednesday, NiMhans could be provided with intervention including risk screening, short advice and structured subsequent support, only to 16 264 individuals. The remaining were excluded because of death or unavailability for tracking.
Ushas are established registers of self -harm, which record the details of persons who, after attempting to self -harm/suicide, come to the emergency departments of 16 hospitals. Furthermore, they are tested at a suicide risk, their features studied and short interventions with telephone monitoring facilitated to reduce their future attempts to self -harm/suicide. The project also included a component called Yashas (youth mental health and self -harm studies) to prevent suicide focused on youth.
“After interventions, we have seen significant results that are encouraging: only 194 people (1.19%) again complied with self-harm and in this small group, 37 people (0.2%) died. The comparison of a global study suggests that more than 10%of individuals seeking self-bar Leadership in Nomivia and leadership of nomia, and leadership about Nimhan, Nimhan is up to Nimhan and leads to the Nimhans and leads to the NiMhans and leads to the Nimhans and leads to the NiMhans and leads to the NiMhans and leads to Nimhan and leading nomia and leading nomia and leading and leadership and leadership. N-sprite.
Young people more vulnerable
Cherian, who underlined the vulnerability of the younger populations, said 44.37% of these cases of self -harm belongs to the age group 25 to 39 years, followed by 28.87% at 18 to 24 years of the holder. Men represented 55.76% of cases, women for 44.15% and 0.09% identified as a person transgender. A significant share was reported by the history of alcohol, nicotine or other use of the substance. The model showed how limited interventions could drastically reduce repeated attempts, he said.
According to the National Crime Records (NCRB), Karnataka continues to face a high level of suicide of 20.2%, significantly above the national average of 12.4%. The state records over 13,600 suicides annually, with Bengaluru ranks third among Indian mega cities for suicide. On this background, they provided targeted initiatives under N-Sprite, especially USHA, measurable results to prevent suicide, said Dr. Cherian.
A journey focused on health
The project also plunged light on health problems focused on women as triggers among youth. Dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and postpartum complications were reported as significant contributing factors. It acknowledges, Ushas incorporated a component focused on Yashas Youth (study for young people’s mental health and self -harm) to propose interventions more adapted to younger populations, said the doctor.
“These results show the value of the structured monitoring. More than one of the 10 individuals who try to self -harm can eventually die by suicide. Under ushas, this figure has been reduced to a negligible level of consistent possession,” said Pratima Murtha, director Nimhans.
Uma Mahadevan, another chief commissioner and development of Karnataka, and Rajani Partharathy, the prosecutor of the director (mental health), spoke of various initiatives of the state government on expanding mental health services to local and rural areas.
DICSION panel
In A Panel Discussion That Followed, International Experts – Mohan Isaac (Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Western Australia), K. Sekar (Professor of Health Metrics Sciences at the University of Washington, and Professor of Public Health at the Public Health Foundation of India) Discussed the ushas and the possibility of further improvement and expansion of the program.
Another panelist Shalini Garg (editor-in-chief of regional health of Lancet-South-east Asia) discussed the role of magazines to cover mental health problems. Officer IAS Priyanka Mary Francis, another prefab, spoke of the possibilities of change of policy to facilitate the magnification of Ushas at national level.
Published – 10 September 2025 17:46
