STRIDE is an action research project to strengthen suicide prevention efforts in Odisha by working with law enforcement agencies.

Why STRIDE?

The role of law enforcement agencies in suicide prevention is multifaceted, including tasks ranging from collecting data on suicide deaths to conducting investigations on suicide-related medico-legal cases. Additionally, they play a crucial role in connecting at-risk individuals with appropriate support services.

With the introduction of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy, coupled with the legal statute on the decriminalization of suicide outlined in the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 (MHCA) law enforcement agencies find themselves with an expanded and pivotal role as first responders in suicide prevention efforts.

Rooted in a rights-based approach and aligning with SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) 3, STRIDE (Suicide Prevention through Targeted Policy Reforms and Integration with Engagement of Dedicated Law Enforcement Systems) is an innovative initiative designed to strengthen the role of Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) in suicide prevention. The project focuses on three critical components: Improving Data Quality on Suicide, Building Law Enforcement Capacity, and Promoting Law Enforcement Well-Being. By addressing these areas, STRIDE seeks to create a systemic and sustainable model for suicide prevention within the police ecosystem.

How are we addressing the issue?

STRIDE focuses on the following key thematic areas to achieve its intended goal:

1.Improving Data Quality on Suicide
STRIDE identifies and addresses critical gaps in the reporting and capture of suicide-related data within the police ecosystem.

Identifying Gaps: Current data often suffers from underreporting, misclassification, and inconsistencies due to a lack of standardized mechanisms for suicide reporting.
Understanding Mechanisms: Structural and systemic factors, including limited resources, unclear protocols, and stigmatization within the police ecosystem, drive these deficiencies.
Policy-Driven Solutions: STRIDE highlights the role of law enforcement as first responders to suicide incidents, capitalizing on their proximity to cases to enhance data quality. The project advocates for systemic policy changes to establish robust and standardized reporting protocols, integrating law enforcement efforts with health systems for improved data reliability.

This component emphasizes the critical importance of reliable data to inform targeted suicide prevention strategies and broader policy interventions.

2. Building Law Enforcement Capacity
STRIDE equips law enforcement personnel (LEP) with the necessary knowledge and skills to intervene effectively in suicide prevention while fostering a supportive role for families and communities impacted by suicide.

Gatekeeper Techniques: Enable LEP to identify early warning signs of suicide and connect individuals to appropriate care pathways.
Preventing Suicide in Custody Settings: Implement structural and psychological interventions to reduce suicide risk in custody settings, ensuring compliance with national and global guidelines.
Engaging with Media: Equip LEP to handle communication around suicide with sensitivity, promoting safe and non-stigmatizing narratives.
Supporting the Bereaved: Guide LEP in providing compassionate and informed support to families and communities affected by suicide.
Raising Awareness: Sustain LEP’s preexisting efforts to raise awareness around mental health and suicide prevention within at-risk communities.

3. Promoting Law Enforcement Well-Being
Recognizing the mental health challenges within law enforcement, STRIDE addresses LEP well-being through targeted interventions.

Resilience Building: Develop officers’ capacity to manage occupational stress and crises.
Debriefing & De-escalation Techniques: Create mechanisms for addressing trauma and high-stress incidents effectively.
Encouraging Help-Seeking Behaviour: Foster an environment where officers feel supported to access mental health resources and peer networks.

Why Stride Matters

For Law Enforcement: Strengthen their role as first responders in suicide prevention, leveraging their unique position to act at critical moments.
For the Police Ecosystem: Address systemic gaps in data capture and reporting, enhancing the foundation for evidence-based suicide prevention.
For Policy Development: Inform targeted and impactful policy changes by improving the reliability and quality of suicide-related data.
For Communities: Foster safer societies by building a police workforce trained to respond sensitively and effectively to suicide risks.

A Research-driven Approach

STRIDE combines academic rigor with practical application, leveraging a mixed-methods research approach to assess its feasibility and impact. By addressing systemic gaps and enhancing officer capacity, STRIDE aims to provide a scalable, evidence-based model for suicide prevention that can influence both local and national policies.