Google has launched a suicide hotline for Pakistan in collaboration with ‘Umang Pakistan’ permitting customers to get quick help at the top of the search result web page as they browse something associated with suicide.
Recognised by means of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Umang is a mental health helpline that offers help to inclined Pakistanis ideating or planning suicide.
According to the WHO, around a hundred thirty, 000 to 270,000 people try suicide in Pakistan each 12 months. Meanwhile, search interest in intellectual fitness troubles has additionally been on the rise. Google Trends suggests that topics along with tension, melancholy and suicide, peaked within the 2020-21 duration in the country.
Google Regional Director of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Farhan Qureshi shared: “As we see from Trends [Google], Pakistanis are seeking out answers about their intellectual fitness. We understand time is of the essence while looking for assist, particularly for folks that may be going through suicidal thoughts. We wish that this feature aids prone users in locating help in times of need.”
Umang Pakistan Founder and chief govt officer Kinza Naeem stated: “Mental fitness is the biggest unaddressed hassle of our generation, especially at an area like Pakistan where extra than 40 per cent of the population is tormented by some diploma of mental fitness problems.
“We are fully grateful to Google for this well timed partnership. I am sure that together we will be capable of attain out to the most number of human beings in dire need of mental fitness assist and smash the taboo around it state-huge,” she stated.
The hotline update might be to be had on both laptop and mobile (Android/iOS).
