KOTTAYAM: The Malankara Orthodox Church has launched the Emotional Support Centre, VIPASSANA H.H. Basalios Mar Thoma Paulose II Catholicos inaugurated the Centre at MGOCSM Student Centre, Kottayam by lighting the lamp.
Justice K. T. Thomas, Fr. Dr. K. M. George (Director, Sopanam Academy of Orthodox Theology), Fr. Dr. O. Thomas (Principal, Orthodox Theological Seminary), Dr. Varghese Punnoose (Professor of Psychiatry, Government. Medical College, Kottayam), Fr. P. A. Philip (Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Human Empowerment) and Dr. Siby Tharakan (Director, Vipassana).
In the inaugural address, H. H. Catholicos emphasized that the number of people committing suicide is on the increase due to mounting emotional stress in the workplace, family and educational institutions. It is the responsibility of the Church to take care and solace the depressed through relevant measures as shown by Jesus Christ.
Justice K.T. Thomas, former Judge, Supreme Court of India said, there should not be any discrimination in funeral service for people committing self-harm. The mounting psychological pressure on an individual creates traumatic experiences in the individual which induces suicidal thoughts and the individual’s response to it is not volitional. Any act to normalize the thought process of such individual is commendable.
The Helpline envisages helping people who are under tremendous stress and emotional breakdown. The Telephone Helpline which purports to console and empower people under emotional breakdown and loneliness will function 24×6.
The calls coming to the Helpline centre will be handled by volunteers who are trained for the purpose. Three-day training for 40 volunteers was conducted at the Centre.
The callers will not be required to disclose their name and destination. The problems shared shall be kept strictly secret. Students, youth and senior citizens (anybody irrespective of their age, caste or religion) can be the beneficiaries of the helpline. Face to face interaction for emotional help and counselling by reference for the needy is also arranged in the center.
The focal point of the Centre shall be the enrichment of Family life. It will organize various Awareness /Training Program in this lineage. It will also organize various training /awareness programs for Suicide Prevention.
Vipassana shall organize programs to console and embolden families in which suicide or unnatural death happened. Get together of such families, emotional sharing, counselling, retreats etc also shall be organized. Vipassana is a joint enterprise of the Ministry of Human Empowerment and Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Student Movement.
The VIPASSANA Emotional Support Centre can be contacted at Mob: 07025067695.
E-mail: vipassana.mohe@gmail.com
Contact address: Director, VIPASSANA, MGOCSM Student Centre, CMC College Junction, Kottayam, Kerala-686001