Beyond Words

On September 10th, 2024, the global community comes together to observe World Suicide Prevention Day. Embracing this year’s theme, “Changing the narrative on suicide”, we can’t emphasize enough on reflecting on how we speak, think, and act around suicide and mental health. We are proud to share that Beyond Words participated in the Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training Program on 7th September 2024, organized by Listening Community, in collaboration with DNip Care and Kerala Club. Our co-founders played an integral role in the Program, leading two impactful sessions aimed at empowering participants with crucial skills. Aakanksha Sharma delivered an insightful session on the QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) approach, a globally recognized method in suicide prevention. The QPR approach equips persons with the ability to identify warning signs of suicide, ask critical questions, and intervene effectively by persuading individuals in crisis to seek help and referring them to appropriate resources. This session focused on building practical skills, enabling participants to take prompt and compassionate action when they encounter someone at risk. The goal is to foster a culture where prevention is proactive, and intervention is timely and empathetic, helping individuals in crisis to feel supported and heard before it’s too late. Varsha KV (she/her) led a deeply impactful session on Suicide Postvention for individuals who have survived a non-fatal suicide attempt. This session centered on providing the essential support, care, and resources needed for survivors as they navigate the complex emotional and psychological aftermath of their experience. Varsha’s session emphasized that postvention is not just about immediate crisis intervention but also about creating a long-term plan for healing and recovery. She highlighted the unique challenges faced by non-fatal attempt survivors, including feelings of guilt, shame, isolation, and the stigma that often surrounds suicide. Her approach aimed to help these individuals rebuild their sense of self-worth and purpose, offering strategies for mental, emotional, and social recovery. One of the key focuses was on the importance of community support in the postvention process. Varsha stressed that healing doesn’t happen in isolation; rather, it requires a network of understanding, compassionate individuals—friends, family, caregivers, and mental health professionals—who can offer ongoing support. Other speakers- kanika khandelwal (She/Her), Farhan Sayed and Sayed Mubasheer brought in nuances of understanding and coping with suicide. We are deeply thankful to Mr KV Hamza for including us in this beautiful community space, and are also grateful to Mr Subu Rahman (President, DNip Care), Mr AJ Philip (President, Kerala Club), Mr Madhavan Kutty (Secretary, Kerala Club) and Dr. Sakhi John for their attentive and engaging presence.

🚑 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝! 🌿 Delhites' National Initiative in Palliative Care (𝐃𝐍𝐢𝐩𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞) recently conducted an impactful training session on Palliative Care and Basic Life Support (BLS), emphasizing that care goes beyond clinical interventions—it's about compassion, empathy, and providing dignity in life's most challenging moments. The session included hands-on CPR training, equipping healthcare professionals with the vital skills needed to act swiftly and effectively in emergencies. But more than that, it was a powerful reminder that palliative care isn't limited to hospitals—it begins at home. By nurturing an environment of understanding and support within our families and communities, we can extend this compassion throughout our world. Together, let's build a future where every patient receives the care and comfort they deserve, ensuring no one feels alone in their journey. Kudos to DNipCare for leading this essential initiative and empowering healthcare teams to make a difference where it matters most! 🌍💚 Beyond Words Dr. Sakhi John MBA - Health and Hospital Management, Jamia Hamdard #PalliativeCare #BasicLifeSupport #Healthcare #CompassionInCare #PatientCare #CommunityHealth #DNipCare #LifeSavingSkills #EmpathyInAction

Creating Safer Workplaces: Experience Conducting POSH Sessions with Escalent Recently, Beyond Words had the privilege of conducting sessions on the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act with the dedicated team at Escalent. The sessions were not just about understanding legal requirements but about fostering meaningful conversations around safety, boundaries, and consent—topics that are often under-discussed yet vital in every workplace. In the Indian context, these discussions are particularly important as they help break down long-standing cultural norms and encourage a shift towards a more respectful and inclusive environment. The need for such dialogue cannot be overstated; it empowers employees to recognize and respect each other's boundaries, ensuring that everyone feels secure and valued. And this is particularly relevant today, considering how a woman's basic right to safety and dignity was gruesomely violated at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata. What made these sessions truly enriching was the responsiveness of the participants. Their willingness to engage openly, ask questions, and share their perspectives added depth to the conversation and highlighted the collective responsibility we all share in creating a safe workplace. This kind of engagement is a powerful testament to the positive change we can achieve when we come together to address these critical issues. With organizations like Escalent leading the way, there’s hope for workplaces that don't just enforce POSH policies but actively embrace a culture of safety and respect. By continuing to prioritize discussions around safety, consent, and boundaries, we are laying the groundwork for a more equitable and inclusive professional environment. The webinar was facilitated by Oshin Rakesh Randhawa, a Consultant Psychologist with Beyond Words, and proved to be highly informative and engaging for the participants. #POSH #SafeWorkplace #Boundaries #Consent #WorkplaceCulture #GenderNeutral #Inclusion #IndianWorkplaceCulture #CultureShift #workplaceharassment

Had a very wholesome experience at Jamia Hamdard yesterday where we were present along with DNip Care to talk about Palliative Care, Basic Life Support and the psychological support needed by patients living with Dementia. It is always heartwarming and again, wholesome, to speak with not only students who have questions about how they can become a part of the movement to support families and individuals requiring palliative care, but also with professionals such as Dr. Sakhi John who, with his enthusiasm and sheer energy, could keep us in great spirits throughout the afternoon. Thank you Dr Sakhi for bringing in the essence of what it means to be connected to people around us, and for imparting the same in the students present in the session. It was, of course, also great interacting with and listening to the rest of the team of DNip Care where everyone emphasized on the relevance of reaching out to others and being of help. It was inspiring to listen to Mr KV Hamza, Mr Michael PJ and Mr Desanth C talk about the need to keep others in mind in our everyday lives, and emphasize on how understanding Basic Life Support can make us more skilled in being there for each other! One is left with some great conversations and thoughts that make one want to believe and trust the world again! It is people like these that make the world a better place to live, perhaps!

Last date to apply : 28.08.24

*Trigger warning: sexual violence* Something worth deliberating on? A lot of what happens around us is a reflection of what we want to see and what we want to look away from. Let’s be more inclusive, within.

Today, we had a wonderful opportunity to be a part of the Palliative Care Sensitization Program facilitated by DNip Care, that is doing incredible work in reaching out to individuals, families and communities at large to provide them with medical and psychological support, as part of palliative care, to the best of their capacity. These are families that have patients suffering from long-term, incurable and life-limiting diseases, and DNip Care has unstoppably worked to provide them with not only medical services, but have taken into account their everyday struggles and attended to them. Their work is rare and truly inspiring. The session was held at Indian Meteorological Department, and the themes covered were Cancer Awareness, Basic Life Support including CPR and one of the most common neurological disorders that the elderly population struggles with- Dementia. The session had the audience come up with interesting questions, and hopefully think about their own everyday choices and habits. It was truly insightful to listen to medical professionals talk about how our daily living can contribute to or also help us dodge diseases such as cancer. Mr. KV Hamza's presentation on the necessity of palliative care was eye opening and truly moving, with him elaborating on his experiences and urging the audience to actively reach out to others and invest in their lives. Varsha KV (she/her), our co-founder and Counseling Psychologist, spoke about Dementia and tried bringing in some of the lived experiences of patients, at the same time focusing on caregiver burden and their immense need for support. All in all, it was a day well spent, with all the information and the learning, and the experience of seeing others with a sheer will to work for others.

Hiring for a Consultant Psychologist Are you someone who is building their own practice, but is also willing to become a part of a growing organization? Let’s see if these pointers interest you further: • Flexible work hours • Remote (barring occasional offline meetings) • Contribute in the creative process of coming up with new ideas of engagement  • Opportunities to provide mentorship to other budding psychologists.  • Participate actively in facilitating workshops and training sessions. Want to know or discuss more? Reach out to us at beyondwords.av@gmail.com or visit our website- www.beyondwordsav.in Apply now and become a part of our mission to enhance mental healthcare in our communities Interested? Click on the link to fill the application form. https://lnkd.in/gmWfSPFA

Hiring for a Consultant Psychologist Are you someone who is building their own practice, but is also willing to become a part of a growing organization? Let’s see if these pointers interest you further: • Flexible work hours • Remote (barring occasional offline meetings) • Contribute in the creative process of coming up with new ideas of engagement  • Opportunities to provide mentorship to other budding psychologists.  • Participate actively in facilitating workshops and training sessions. Want to know or discuss more? Reach out to us at beyondwords.av@gmail.com or visit our website- www.beyondwordsav.in Apply now and become a part of our mission to enhance mental healthcare in our communities Interested? Click on the link to fill the application form. https://lnkd.in/gmWfSPFA

What happens when you stop smoking? #NoTobacco