World Suicide Prevention Day 2024’s theme is ‘Changing the Narrative on Suicide,’ emphasising the need for open, compassionate dialogue and reduced stigma surrounding mental health issues.
Goa, India, September 5, 2024: BITS Pilani hosted its thought-provoking event, ‘Samvaad,’ featuring renowned Vedanta philosopher and national bestselling author Acharya Prashant on September 3. The timely discussion, held ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day, drew a large audience of students, faculty, and mental health advocates. Acharya Prashant, a former civil servant and IIT-IIM alumnus, offered a distinct viewpoint on the pressing problem of suicide prevention. His background in both secular and spiritual realms lent weight to his unconventional approach to the topic.
He challenged traditional views on suicide, proposing a broader, existential definition. “It is not the end of the body that you should call suicide; it is the end of possibility and potential,” Acharya Prashant stated, shifting focus from the physical act to the deeper issue of unrealised human potential.
He provocatively questioned whether society at large is complicit in a form of existential suicide. “If we define suicide as the ending of potential and possibility, then aren’t we all committing suicide?” he asked, urging the audience to reflect on their progress toward realising their ultimate potential.
Introducing the concept of Samādhi, Acharya Prashant presented it as a profound alternative to both physical and existential forms of suicide. He described Samādhi not as a distant state but as a deep realisation and transformation of consciousness, offering a “true, lasting solution” to life’s existential challenges.
While acknowledging the importance of conventional approaches to suicide prevention, Acharya Prashant advocated for a deeper, more holistic strategy. He encouraged self-observation and understanding as pathways to achieving Samādhi and true fulfilment.
As the event concluded, attendees left with a renewed perspective on suicide prevention and mental health. The Samvaad at BITS Pilani proved to be a timely and insightful prelude to World Suicide Prevention Day, encouraging a more profound and existential approach to addressing human suffering.
The event aligns with this year’s World Suicide Prevention Day theme, ‘Changing the Narrative on Suicide,’ emphasising the need for open, compassionate dialogue and reduced stigma surrounding mental health issues.