Papers by Bobby Zachariah
Illness, Crisis & Loss, 2024
India has a significant number of people exposed to suicide. The traumatic effects of these exper... more India has a significant number of people exposed to suicide. The traumatic effects of these experiences, and the healing process of suicide survivors are poorly understood. We investigated suicide survivors' experiences and post-suicide healing. Interviews were conducted with suicide survivors who received different types of support-home visits before COVID-19 and telephonic outreach during lockdown. Two researchers used "active listening" and "human capacity for response" theory for deductive and inductive coding. Personal and socio-cultural factors affect recovery after suicide. Protective factors include religious or spiritual beliefs, as well as a sense of life purpose. Factors that hinder recovery include lack of social support, unmet need for compassionate understanding, insufficient acknowledgment of personal struggles, and social stigma. Interventions for suicide survivors should consider personal and cultural factors, including psychological and religious needs. Interventions should create safe environments that allow individuals to draw on personal and social resources for healing.
School Mental Health, 2018
Youth suicide is a public health problem in India, and young people in school, particularly adole... more Youth suicide is a public health problem in India, and young people in school, particularly adolescents, experience heavy psychological burden. Prevention programs, involving peer educators (PEs), have proved useful strategies to address this problem, but their impact on the PEs is less understood, particularly in India. This qualitative study aims to explore the changes observed in PE students who were involved in a 'mindfulness' and 'Support-Appreciate-Listen-Team' (SALT)-based peer education program to address suicidal behavior in Indian school students. One hundred and fourteen students were trained as PEs in six high schools in Pune to identify and respond to the needs of students in distress. By listening to the narratives of the PEs, their parents, school authorities, and the associated NGO team, we reflect on perceived social, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive changes in PEs. The PEs demonstrated enhanced caring for those in distress both inside and outside school by improved listening skills, self-awareness, care, and empathy. Furthermore, the program had a positive impact on their broad emotional intelligence and PEs expressed increased ownership of life, taking action, and seeking support where needed. The study concludes that mindfulness and SALT-based peer education (PE) programs are valuable for the PEs. This could be used to motivate PEs to volunteer in such programs. Other results are discussed and further research areas are suggested.
School Mental Health, 2018
Youth suicide is a public health problem in India, and young people in school, particularly adole... more Youth suicide is a public health problem in India, and young people in school, particularly adolescents, experience heavy psychological burden. Prevention programs, involving peer educators (PEs), have proved useful strategies to address this problem , but their impact on the PEs is less understood, particularly in India. This qualitative study aims to explore the changes observed in PE students who were involved in a 'mindfulness' and 'Support-Appreciate-Listen–Team' (SALT)-based peer education program to address suicidal behavior in Indian school students. One hundred and fourteen students were trained as PEs in six high schools in Pune to identify and respond to the needs of students in distress. By listening to the narratives of the PEs, their parents, school authorities, and the associated NGO team, we reflect on perceived social, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive changes in PEs. The PEs demonstrated enhanced caring for those in distress both inside and outside school by improved listening skills, self-awareness, care, and empathy. Furthermore, the program had a positive impact on their broad emotional intelligence and PEs expressed increased ownership of life, taking action, and seeking support where needed. The study concludes that mindfulness and SALT-based peer education (PE) programs are valuable for the PEs. This could be used to motivate PEs to volunteer in such programs. Other results are discussed and further research areas are suggested.
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Papers by Bobby Zachariah