In 2014, founder Gayatri Datta, after experiencing the pain and suffering of personally losing loved ones to suicide, was compelled to do something to help prevent suicide in India. Silence was no longer an option. This led to the beginning of Sisters Living Works, with a mission to raise awareness about suicide prevention and provide education, support and resources to communities.
According to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India (ADSI) report, 170,746 suicides were reported in India in 2024, with a suicide rate of 12.2 per lakh population. The report also recorded 14,488 student suicides, highlighting the importance of strengthening mental health support and suicide prevention efforts among young people.
Suicide is influenced by a complex combination of personal, social, economic and environmental factors. The latest NCRB data identifies causes including family problems, illness, substance use, marriage-related issues, financial difficulties and other forms of distress. Stigma, limited access to mental healthcare and difficulty seeking support can further prevent people from reaching out when they need help.
At Sisters Living Works, we believe suicide prevention goes beyond awareness. It requires compassionate conversations, stronger support systems, meaningful connections and communities where people feel heard, valued and safe to seek help.
Prevention of suicide in India by raising community awareness, involvement, education, and advocacy. Our activities, events, and efforts are focused towards:
- Educating individuals that suicide is a preventable public health problem.
- Raising awareness about the warning signs of suicidal behaviour and the action-oriented steps one can take to respond in a supportive manner.
- Encouraging help-seeking behaviour among people.
- Breaking the stigma surrounding suicide, mental health, and therapy.
- Creating a safe space for individuals to freely and comfortably talk about suicide and mental health, to find hope in the knowledge that each person is a crucial part of our community and should never feel alone in their struggle.
Sisters Living Works ultimately visualizes a suicide-free India, where each person is aware and sensitized about the importance of mental health. Our goals include:
- Developing educational content to promote awareness about suicide and mental health, and delivering them through offline and online mediums such as workshops, conferences, and multimedia outlets.
- Developing and implementing strategies to counter cultural stigma associated with suicidal behaviour, mental health diagnosis, and its treatment, which prevents many from seeking help.
- Assisting family members in understanding that suicide affects not only the suicidal person, but the family too. Guiding families to seek help in dealing with their feelings of grief from loss of their loved ones and their pain from the burden of the resulting social stigma.
- Creating a “Women’s Centre”, where women can gather, develop friendships, and provide support. Women of different walks of life can use this space to come and share, learn, connect with others, and work together to reduce the shame and stigma often associated with mental health treatment.
- Recruiting, organizing, training, and educating advocates dedicated to the cause of suicide prevention, and to influence the public and elected officials on policies affecting suicide prevention.
Workshops
Intensive group interactions are organized where information is provided on the prevalence of suicide in India, the warning signs of suicidal behavior, and strategies that participants can use to respond effectively to a person expressing suicidal thoughts. Mental health workshops on various topics are also organized.
First Responder Training
Our thorough training equips community workers to be vigilant and compassionate community members. With extensive training, they can identify subtle signs of distress and potential suicide risk. These community workers, with their intimate local knowledge, serve as a crucial link, connecting those in need with essential resources and support.
Teachers Training Program
Our comprehensive 16 hours of training equip educators and school counselors with essential skills, deeper knowledge, compassion, and understanding about suicide among students. By creating a supportive environment, we empower educators to navigate the complexities of mental health and play a vital role in preventing suicide among students.
Counseling
Our dedicated team of counselors provides free counseling sessions and support to individuals coming from humble backgrounds seeking emotional health assistance. These sessions help people share and process their emotions better. This initiative aims to enhance mental well-being through easily accessible, caring, and inclusive counseling services for the ones in need.
Support Group
Creating resource network of people from all over India through a free & inclusive support group, Offering a safe space where individuals can openly discuss their experiences, challenges & victories in a supportive, understanding environment. Participants can share, process their emotions related to their loss, remember the loved one they lost to suicide & provide strength to one another in times of need.
Other Events
Events occur throughout the year to instill awareness and create an open dialogue about suicide and mental health. Some significant ones include:
• Annual Conference on world suicide prevention day
• International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day.
• Into The Light: Our Annual Awareness Run and Walk.
• Movie and Documentary screenings.
• Stalls and information desks put up at college festivals and other recreational events.
Workshops
Intensive group interactions are organized where information is provided on the prevalence of suicide in India, the warning signs of suicidal behavior, and strategies that participants can use to respond effectively to a person expressing suicidal thoughts. Mental health workshops on various topics are also organized.
First Responder Training
Our thorough training equips community workers to be vigilant and compassionate community members. With extensive training, they can identify subtle signs of distress and potential suicide risk. These community workers, with their intimate local knowledge, serve as a crucial link, connecting those in need with essential resources and support.
Teachers Training Program
Our comprehensive 16 hours of training equip educators and school counselors with essential skills, deeper knowledge, compassion, and understanding about suicide among students. By creating a supportive environment, we empower educators to navigate the complexities of mental health and play a vital role in preventing suicide among students.
Counseling
Our dedicated team of counselors provides free counseling sessions and support to individuals coming from humble backgrounds seeking emotional health assistance. These sessions help people share and process their emotions better. This initiative aims to enhance mental well-being through easily accessible, caring, and inclusive counseling services for the ones in need
Other Events
Events occur throughout the year to instill awareness and create an open dialogue about suicide and mental health. Some significant ones include:
• Annual Conference on world suicide prevention day
• International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day.
• Into The Light: Our Annual Awareness Run and Walk.
• Movie and Documentary screenings.
• Stalls and information desks put up at college festivals and other recreational events
Support Group
Creating resource network of people from all over India through a free & inclusive support group, Offering a safe space where individuals can openly discuss their experiences, challenges & victories in a supportive, understanding environment. Participants can share, process their emotions related to their loss, remember the loved one they lost to suicide & provide strength to one another in times of need.
People Reached
22561
+
Activities Conducted
10
+
Expert Members
10
+
Active Volunteers
10
+
Groups reached in Mumbai, India
- SNDT Women’s University
- Jai Hind College
- Nirmala Niketan College of Social Work
- Mithibai College of Commerce and Arts
- University of Mumbai (Kalina)
- Siddharth College Rotary Club (Bandra and Khar)
- Yerla Medical Trust
- Magic Bus
- J. J. Hospital
- Wilson College
- Disha Counselling Center
- Institute for
Exceptional Children (IEC) - Valia College of Arts, Commerce and Science,
- LS Raheja College, Santa Cruz
- Guru Nanak School, Sion
- AIESEC Navi Mumbai,
- Kotak Foundation,
- Hamdard Institute
- Vijay High School
- Gundecha Educational Academy
- Kherwadi Social Welfare Organization
- Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal (MAVIM) which works with around 200 women’s groups around Mumbai
- Asha Sadan, a home for destitute girls
- Alcoholics Anonymous groups (Al-Anon)
- Dharavi Slums
- Railway Workers
- Co-working and event spaces like Helm of Eight, MCubed Library, QTube Café, and The HIVE
- S.M. Shetty College
- Bright Future India
- Mumbai Smiles NGO
- Snehasadan (home for homeless children)
- Nagindas Khandwala College
- Life Long Foundatiom
- Savera NGO
Groups reached across India
- Udayan Care (Udayan Shalini Fellowship)
- Vellore Institute of Technology, Tamil Nadu
- Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur
- Hope NIT, Trichy, Rajasthan
- Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Yugo Yuva, New Delhi
- Aarogya Vandana Yoga, Pune
- Swami Niwas Vrruddhashram, Pune
- Aadhartirth Ashram for Orphans, Trimbak
Our Board Members
Gayatri Datta
President and Founder
Dr. Sandra A. Yerkes
Psychiatrist, Vice-President
Atin R. Datta
Treasurer
Shomik R. Datta
Secretary
April Gower-Getz
Research Advisor
Arup Datta
Fundraising Advisor
Dr. Rahul Datta
Mental Health and Art Advisor
Team
- Email: meenakshi@sisterslivingworks.org
- Mobile: +91 9820409224
- Email: kavya@sisterslivingworks.org
- Mobile: +91 9820871712
- Email : sanhita@sisterslivingworks.org
- Mobile : +91 7841013382
- Email : achala@sisterslivingworks.org
- Mobile : +91 8779280031
- Email : mallika@sisterslivingworks.org
- Mobile : +91 7039251710