Kottayam: The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church has launched the Emotional Support Centre, VIPASSANA with three pronged strategies of Emotional Support Helpline, Family Life Enrichment and Suicide Prevention Programme and Fellowship of the family members who suffered the trauma of a suicide in the family. H.H. Basalios Mar Thoma Paulose II Catholicos inaugurated the Centre at MGOCSM Student Centre, Kottayam by lighting a lamp in the presence of Justice K.T.Thomas (Former Judge, Supreme Court of India), Fr. Dr.K.M.George (Director, Sopanam Academy of Orthodox Theology), Fr.Dr.O.Thomas (Principal, Orthodox Theological Seminary), Dr.Varghese Punnoose(Professor of Psychiatry, Government. Medical College, Kottayam), Prof.P.C.Alias (Director, Public Relations of the Orthodox Church),Fr.P.A.Philip (Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Human Empowerment) and Dr.Siby Tharakan(Director, Vipassana). In the inaugural address H.H.Catholicos emphasized that social exclusion of emotionally challenged and aged are on the increase in the current consumerist society and it is the need of the moment to comfort those who are left alone and depressed. The number of people committing suicide is also on the increase due to mounting emotional stress in workplace, family and educational institutions.It is the responsibility of the Church to take care and solace the depressed through relevant measures as shown by Jesus Christ. Justice K.T. Thomas, former Judge, Supreme Court of India said, there should not be any discrimination in funeral service for people committing self harm. The mounting psychological pressure on an individual creates traumatic experiences in the individual which induces suicidal thoughts and the individual’s response to it is not volitional. Any act to normalize the thought process of such individual is commendable. The Helpline envisages helping people who are under tremendous stress and emotional breakdown. The Telephone Helpline which purports to console and empower people under emotional breakdown and loneliness will function 24x6. The calls coming to the Helpline centre will be handled by volunteers who are trained for the purpose. Three day training for 40 volunteers was conducted at the centre. The callers will not be asked to divulge their name and address. The problems shared shall be kept strictly confidential. Students, youth and seniors citizens (anybody irrespective of their age, caste or religion) can be the beneficiaries of the helpline. Face to face interaction for emotional help and counselling by reference for needy is also arranged in the centre. The focus of the Centre shall be the enrichment of Family life. It will organize various Awareness /Training Programme in this line. It shall take up and continue various projects introduced by the Ministry of Human Empowerment of the Church. It will also organize various training /awareness programs for Suicide Prevention. Apart from this, Vipassana shall organize programs to console and embolden families in which suicide or unnatural death happened. Get together of such families, emotional sharing, counselling, retreats etc also shall be organized. Vipassana is a joint initiative of Ministry of Human Empowerment and Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Student Movement. The VIPASSANA Emotional Support Centre can be contacted at Mob: 07025067695, E-mail: vipassana.mohe@gmail.com Contact address: Director, VIPASSANA, MGOCSM Student Centre, CMC College Junction, Kottayam, Kerala-686001