About
Us
Maithri,
Kochi is a registered
non-governmental organisation in Kochi
(Cochin), working for suicide prevention in Kerala. It operates as part of
Maithri Foundation Trust, a public charitable trust registered under the
Charitable Trusts Act,1952. Maithri is a member of Befrienders
India, the India Chapter of Befrienders Worldwide(formerly Befrienders
International). Maithri follows Befrienders
International's Eight-point
Charter, which summarises its mission, objectives and policies. The motto
of Maithri is ‘suicide prevention with people’s
participation.’
Vision: Maithri visualizes itself to be the first call among non-governmental
organizations committed to reduce the suicide rate in the state and be the
model for other organizations pursuing similar objectives.
Mission: Maithri’s mission is to work towards bringing down the suicide rate in the
state to the vicinity of the national rates, by befriending the lonely,
distressed and suicidal persons, and to facilitate primary prevention at
the levels of individuals, family and community.
Maithri
believes that vast majority of suicides taking place around us can be
prevented and that deliberate self-harm is the last option for the
distressed person. It is not uncommon, in the present day Kerala society, that a
distressed person finds it difficult to reach out to an
understanding fellow human being to ventilate himself. Any contact with Maithri is being pursued as a
cry for help. What Maithri offers to such fellow beings is
unconditional friendship (maithri) in an
atmosphere of trust and confidence
The organisation is run by volunteers who lend an understanding ear to
any person in distress wanting to talk to another human being, in an
atmosphere of respect, trust and confidence. Maithri offers befriending to any person who reaches out for help, whether suicidal or not.
Services
offered: Maithri offers emotional support to persons undergoing
emotional distress, who may be in imminent danger of taking their own
lives. Maithri’s
services can be accessed by:
-
Personal visits to the center
-
Contacting the centre through Telephone
-
Sending a letter to the centre
-
Sending an
e-mail
The volunteer present at the center will spend time with the visitor (or
the caller) for as long as is desired by him/her. No appointment is needed
and no fees accepted. Anonymity of the person who contacted will be
protected. On receiving requests from
persons or groups promoting suicide-prevention in Kerala, out-reach programmes are also conducted. Read
more on our befriending services. See also the Privacy Policy.
How
we started: Maithri started functioning
from the Sahrudaya Buildings, on Rajagiri Road, Kalamassery on 17th June, 1995. In November 1998, the center was shifted to Kochi to facilitate easy access
to the callers and volunteers alike. On 2nd October 2007, we shifted to
the present premises in Kalamassery. Our
history recounts the inception process and the ongoing saga of Maithri, and the suicide-prevention movement in Kerala.
Maithri's
funding is entirely through contributions from the public. Sales of
greeting cards and raffle-tickets occasionally supplement the
contributions. Support Maithri and support
suicide-prevention in Kerala.
| Befriending
Services | Our
History | Volunteers | Caller
Statistics | Disclaimer and Privacy policy |
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