On account of World Suicide Prevention Day, a new digital awareness film launches to address an urgent public health challenge. Anchored by the central theme “One Community Around Them,” the campaign responds to a staggering reality: India accounts for nearly a quarter of global suicide deaths, making it the leading cause of mortality among Indian youth aged 15 to 29 years.

To bridge the gap in rural mental healthcare where stigma and limited services amplify risks, Project SURAKSHA was established as a pioneer community-led model by NIMHANS, the Government of Karnataka, and Himalaya Wellness Company. During its pilot phase in Channapatna, the initiative established hospital-based registries that recorded 1,261 suicide attempt survivors. By deploying brief crisis interventions and follow-up care, the program recorded zero reattempts among supported survivors, significantly outperforming global trends where 15 to 25 percent of individuals typically reattempt.

The new film highlights how trained frontline stakeholders, particularly ASHA Workers, teachers, and local leaders, act as first responders to detect emotional distress early.

Mr. KG Umesh, Director–Human Resources, Himalaya Wellness Company, shared, “At Himalaya, we believe mental health support must begin within communities, before a crisis escalates. Through Project SURAKSHA, we are strengthening grassroots suicide prevention through awareness, empathy, and timely intervention. Over the past three years, empowering ASHA workers, teachers, and frontline stakeholders has built a stronger safety net, creating a sustainable framework for mental health awareness in India.”

To extend this message digitally, Himalaya Wellness Company has engaged influencers and public officers to spark open conversations on mental well-being across social platforms. The initiative underscores that effective suicide prevention relies on a whole-of-society effort, proving that an empathetic community network can help save lives long before a crisis escalates.