Archive · 29 Dec 2025
Suicide Helpline Signboards Vanish from Ahmedabad Bridges
In Ahmedabad, India, there are bridges over the Sabarmati river where people sometimes go to try and hurt themselves.
To help these people, the city put up signs with a phone number they can call for help.
But lately, these signs have been disappearing, and more people are dying because they can't find the help they need.
The signs connect people to a helpline called Jeevan Aastha, which has saved many lives in the past.
The city is trying to figure out why the signs keep disappearing and promises to put them back up.
Doctors say that when people are feeling very sad or stressed, having someone to talk to can make a big difference and stop them from hurting themselves.
Suicide helpline signboards have repeatedly vanished from Ahmedabad's Sabarmati river bridges, hindering access to mental health support.
The Jeevan Aastha Helpline (JAH) has saved numerous lives, but its signboards have been disappearing, leading to an increase in suicide deaths.
From November 2024 to October 2025, 81.8% of suicide attempts on the Sabarmati river resulted in death, with 11 out of 13 attempts in November 2025 being fatal.
The AMC has promised to reinstate the signboards after previous disappearances, but they have gone missing again.
The helpline has been effective in Gandhinagar since 2015, with 30% of calls being from individuals at extreme risk.
- Who
- People attempting suicide in Ahmedabad, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), the River Rescue Team of the Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services (AFES), and the Jeevan Aastha Helpline (JAH) counsellors.
- What
- The disappearance of suicide helpline signboards from Ahmedabad's Sabarmati river bridges, leading to an increase in suicide deaths.
- When
- The signboards were installed in November 2023 and have gone missing multiple times since then, with the latest disappearances occurring in 2025.
- Where
- Ahmedabad, India, specifically on the bridges over the Sabarmati river.
- Why
- The signboards, which provide access to mental health counselling through the Jeevan Aastha Helpline, have been disappearing, making it difficult for people in distress to seek help.
- Helpline Number
- 1800-233-3330
- Suicide Attempts (Nov 2022-Oct 2023)
- 211
- Suicide Deaths (Nov 2022-Oct 2023)
- 184 (87%)
- Suicide Attempts (Nov 2023-Oct 2025)
- 185
- Suicide Deaths (Nov 2023-Oct 2025)
- 153 (83%)
- Suicide Attempts (Nov 2024-Oct 2025)
- 171
- Suicide Deaths (Nov 2024-Oct 2025)
- 140 (81.8%)
- Suicide Attempts (Nov 2025)
- 13
- Suicide Deaths (Nov 2025)
- 11
- Helpline Calls (Nov 2023-Oct 2024)
- 6,611
- Helpline Calls (Nov 2024-Oct 2025)
- 7,231
- Helpline Calls (Nov 2025)
- 164
- Helpline Calls from Gandhinagar (2015-2025)
- 820
- High-Risk Calls from Gandhinagar (2015-2025)
- 246 (30%)
- Acute Distress Calls (Nov 2024-Oct 2025)
- 2,456 (34%)