MIMH Organises One-Day Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training Programme

Pune : Maharashtra Institute of Mental Health (MIMH), Pune, organised a One-Day Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training Programme on the occasion of World Suicide Prevention Day 2026, with the aim of strengthening awareness about mental health, suicidality and suicide prevention among individuals who can play an important role in recognising distress and facilitating timely help.

The programme was inaugurated by the Dr. Prasad Deshpande, Director–Professor, Maharashtra Institute of Mental Health, in the presence of the Dr. Shrikant Pawar Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), faculty members and other staff of the Institute. Dr. Praful Kapse Organising chairman introduced the Speaker Mr. Sachin Chitambaran Founder Director of The Connect Hut a social enterprise to make mental health simple.

The programme witnessed an encouraging response, with approximately 190 participants from across Maharashtra taking part in the training. The training focused on developing participants’ understanding of mental health, emotional distress, suicidality and the role of gatekeepers in suicide prevention. The sessions were designed to be highly interactive and participatory, providing opportunities for discussion, reflection, questions and practical engagement.

The programme covered three major modules. The first module, “Understanding Mental Health,” addressed concepts of mental well-being, emotions and feelings, common mental health challenges, recognition of emotional distress, the mental health spectrum, safety planning, accessing support services and strengthening support systems.

The second module, “Basics of Suicidality,” focused on understanding suicide and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), contributing factors, risk and protective factors, stages of suicidal ideation, myths and facts about suicide, and appropriate communication with individuals experiencing distress.

A key component of the programme was the LISTEN Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training, which equipped participants with practical skills for responding to individuals who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts or emotional distress.

The interactive nature of the training encouraged participants to engage actively with the subject, clarify misconceptions and explore ways of responding sensitively and appropriately when someone may be at risk. The programme also highlighted the importance of early identification, supportive communication, timely referral and strengthening personal and community support systems.

The programme concluded with key takeaways, questions, participant feedback and a closing session. Participants were also encouraged to complete the prescribed pre- and post-training assessments as part of the certification process.

The successful participation of 190 individuals from different parts of Maharashtra reflected the growing interest and commitment towards building community capacity for suicide prevention. Through such initiatives, Dr. Praful Kapse said MIMH continues to contribute to strengthening mental health awareness, early identification of distress and community-based suicide prevention efforts across the state.