The 13-day Bikeathon cycle ride marked its finale, ending another successful chapter on bringing awareness towards the value of mental health

The 13-day Bikeathon cycle ride marked its finale, ending another successful chapter on bringing awareness towards the value of mental health and well-being and reducing death by suicide. During this cycle ride, 29 dedicated cyclists embarked on a journey of 82 kilometres from Colombo to Kitulgala. 

“Ride to Save Lives” Bikeathon is an initiative by CCCline 1333, a free and confidential telephone crisis support service in Sri Lanka. This event aims to raise awareness about the vital telephone number 1333, which assists those experiencing stress, anxiety and/or difficulties in their lives that may lead to suicidal thoughts or actions.

In Sri Lanka, between 8 and 10 people die to suicide daily. For every person who dies by suicide, thirty more will be attempting self-harm. The primary goal of CCCline 1333 is to empower individuals to recognize and address the social issues and stigma associated with mental illness that affects their emotional well-being. CCCline 1333 strongly encourages people to speak out about their problems, thereby enabling individuals to address their issues and prevent death by suicide.

CCCline 1333 which is a project of the CCC Foundation established in December 2009 and stands for courage, compassion, and commitment. CCC line 1333 crisis supporters are trained under the guidance of Lifeline International, ensuring high-quality assistance, to those who reach out to them. This service is available 24/7, free of charge via any telephone network, and receives over 4000 calls monthly.

Throughout the 13 days the CCCline 1333 presented a series of topics aimed at raising awareness about the causes behind suicidal thoughts and the processes of addressing them. The topics ranged from relationship issues to family disputes, addictions, unbearable financial worries, problems in the workplace and unemployment, facing failures in exams, domestic violence, bereavement or loss, depression, anxiety, terminal illnesses and suicide itself. 

Each one of these articles reminded readers on the importance of reaching out for help. The CCCline at 1333 provides unbiased guidance. Talking to a professional can support you to navigate the situation and regain a sense of control and perspective in your life. Talking to someone about a broken relationship for instance could have a positive effect on life as it is and support a person to move forward in life. 

There may be instances when you feel overwhelmed and discouraged. In such instances, all that you really need is a compassionate ear to help you navigate through the challenges. This is why the 1333 crisis support line was established as a dedicated service to attentively listen and provide the courage to address an issue or problem effectively. The crisis supporters assist callers and if needed they would refer the caller to an appropriate service provider for further assistance. Assistance is just one call away and is available in trilingual services and 100% confidential. 

Throughout the 13 days the CCCline 1333 presented a series of topics aimed at raising awareness about the causes behind suicidal thoughts and the processes of addressing them

CCCline 1333 Brand Ambassador Kumar Sangakkara emphasised on the fact that we all have good times and bad times. “However, when we find it difficult to cope with stress, issues or problems, it is important to seek assistance from our family, friends, and professionals to overcome them before they become more serious, or escalate,” he said.