Mumbai, May 28, 2025: In honour of Mental Health Awareness Month, Samarpan, the premium mental health organisation known for its international-standard rehabilitation and wellness care, hosted a focused Suicide Prevention Training Workshop on May 26 at its serene Mulshi campus near Pune for its staff. The session was held in collaboration with The Connect Hut and led by renowned trainer Sachin Chitambaran, founder of The Connect Hut, President of Befrienders India, and co-founder of Ankahee Suicide Prevention Helpline. The workshop brought together mental health professionals, addiction specialists, and frontline caregivers for a comprehensive session on gatekeeping practices tailored to individuals with substance use disorders.
The highly interactive session included strategies for recognising behavioural cues of suicidal ideation, understanding the interplay between withdrawal symptoms, co-occurring mental health conditions and suicide risk, and practising effective communication strategies in crises. The workshop also addressed de-escalation techniques and culturally sensitive referral protocols, placing special emphasis on the nuances of suicide prevention within the Indian social and clinical landscape.
“This training will foster a proactive suicide prevention environment within Samarpan’s addiction services by enhancing staff vigilance and shared responsibility in identifying and addressing suicide risk, thus strengthening care.” said Sachin Chitambaran, who has over 15 years of experience in suicide prevention and is a certified Suicide Prevention Gatekeeping Instructor by the QPR Institute, Washington, USA.
Speaking on the importance of proactive training, Mr. Obi Unaka, Chief Clinical Officer at Samarpan, added, “This training strengthens our clinicians ability to respond with informed interventions, support our clients with empathy, and prevent a suicide crisis well before it escalates.”
With over 90 years of combined global experience in addiction and mental health services, Samarpan offers both residential and outpatient programs across Maharashtra, combining clinical excellence with compassionate care. This workshop marks another step in the organisation’s commitment to capacity-building and advocacy, enabling communities and institutions to respond more effectively to India’s rising mental health challenges.