A rumour about an internet-based “Blue Whale” suicide game has spread across the globe and teenager suicides attributed to it have been reported from many countries. Beginning on July 31, 2017, many cases were reported from India, triggering much public alarm. Based on a theory of rumour panic, this article is an exploration of its local spread in India by examining the media reports connected with it. The psycho-social responses from professionals are elaborated. Key observations are: Blue Whale in India was a perceived threat, the social responses to it were mediated by a rumour-panic and individual behavioral responses to it had features of imitative contagion and wrongful attribution. The media played as the major vehicle for the spread of the rumor, and there were iatrogenic effects in the professional responses to it. The implication for professionals and authority figures with media presence is to diligently fact check before risk communication. Media personnel need to adhere to guidelines on suicide reporting to avoid harm from reportage per se.

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Gaming addiction is an emerging public health concern among adolescents from all over the world. Blue Whale Game is an allegedly reported epidemic which involve self-harm of adolescents. Although there have been reported deaths of teenagers which were allegedly related to Blue Whale challenge game across the globe, there has been no confirmed case/evidence till now. This article throws light on the proposed hypothesis and speculation behind the suicide of teenagers and discusses public health interventions at the individual, family, and state levels.

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Mental health of people of tribal origin in Wayanad is a great cause of concern since there is limited accessibility of mental health services. Our pilot visits to the interior tribal colonies of Wayanad reveal many cases of untreated psychosis and high rates of substance abuse, especially alcohol and tobacco. To improve their mental health access and utilization, Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Kozhikode, recently initiated a novel community mental health program in selected tribal colonies at Wayanad. This pilot program contains a situational analysis, training of grass root-level workers, awareness program, and mental health and psychosocial support services through a multidisciplinary mobile team.

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Introduction: Marriage is an important social institution. It is the basis for the family. The functions of marriage are regulation of sexual behavior, reproduction, nurturance, production of children, and socialization. Stigma associated with mental illness is a major cause for failure of marriage among persons with mental illness (PMI). Perspectives of the PMI and their family members on marriage are not explored in detail. Thus, the current study aimed to explore the perspectives on marriage of PMI and their caregivers. Methodology: Five case studies purposively selected with a significant history of marital failures due to mental illness were analyzed. In addition, three focus group discussions consisting of 17 caregivers were conducted among people who attempted to arrange the marriage for their son or daughter with mental illness. Results: Families experienced major challenges to arrange marriage for PMI; blaming the parents, caregiver burden, reduced social support, and social stigma for the entire family emerged as the major themes. Conclusion: Hence, there is an urgent need to explore the feasibility of psychosocial intervention; focusing on psycho-education on illness, removing myths related to illness and marriage, premarital counseling, and addressing the stigma within the family and in the community are imperative. Psychiatric social workers must take the lead role to address the marriage-related concerns of PMI and their family members.

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