Psychological counselling for SAI trainees

ALAPPUZHA: The athletes at the Sports Authority of India centre at Punnamada here will be provided psychological counselling following the suicide attempt of four girls and the death of one of them a few days ago.

SAI centre assistant director Premjith Lal said that three counsellors from Thiruvanan-thapuram will meet the players to identify their problems. The athletes, who had left the centre, are expected to return in a few days.

“Most of the students here spend their time alone in the hostel rooms. After identifying the gravity of their distress, the trauma care classes will be conducted. There are 55 of them currently here,” Lal said, adding that the centre had not been closed down.

However, 20 boys and nine female athletes — out of the 55 inmates — have already left the centre. There were allegations that the girls had attempted suicide due to the harassment from senior athletes and coaches.

Read: Harassment? 4 women SAI athletes attempt suicide in Kerala, 1 dead; ministry starts probe

Dr R.S. Nisha, administrative medical officer at Public Health Centre in Ambalappuzha who led the trauma management classes for students of the Amabalappuzha school, says an effective trauma care unit, including psychologists, should be set up at the centre to counsel the athletes.

“Often, players have haunting memory of the incident affecting their future prospects. They have to be given at least six months’ counselling,” she says. The athletes and their parents had requested SAI director general Injeti Srinivas during his visit to the campus on Friday, that they required a break to recover from the shock.

Read: Most shocking and tragic incident in SAI's history, says DG Injeti Srinivas

“All of us here have been devastated by the subsequent queries by the police and government officials. Many haven’t taken food for some days properly due to the mental trauma,” a national medal winning rower said.

Medical superintendent Dr Santosh Raghavan said the condition of the three athletes undergoing treatment was stable. They had started taking light food, he said. istrict police chief V. Sureshkumar said the investigation was under progress.  “We will get a clear picture after questioning the three girls,” he said.