Experts sound alarm on increasing suicidal tendencies among young adults, teens

Yesterday, a 22-year-old man took his life by committing suicide and a 19-year-old BBA student—subjected to bullying and having his social accounts hacked—stopped attending college and told a correspondent he was suffering from acute depression and at times had thoughts of ending his life.

Psychologists in Ludhiana say these are not isolated cases. They warn suicidal thoughts among teenagers, adolescents and young adults are increasingly common and constitute a continuous process that demands urgent attention from parents, schools and peers.

“Parents hardly spend quality time with their children and often offer instant gratification instead of building emotional resilience,” said Charanjit Kaur, a counsellor at BCM School, Dugri. “A lack of communication is the major reason for such thoughts. Parents should sit with their children, ask how their day went and explore reasons for stress or anxiety, if any. We cannot leave the child on his own,” she added.

Harmit Kaur Waraich, Principal, Nankana Public School, said the social stigma attached to mental-health problems must be removed. “In severe cases, take the child to a qualified counsellor or psychologist. They will help strengthen the child and provide a roadmap to treatment and coping. Although, we organise seminars and workshops on good parenting, a lot more awareness is needed to curb suicidal tendencies among youngsters,” she said.

Parents must also watch for behavioural changes. One father, whose only son attempted suicide a few years ago, recalled how the boy began withdrawing, felt hopeless and consumed sad content on social media. “We failed to dig deeper. He was suffering from a treatable condition but had lost patience and hope. Only after the attempt did we take him to a clinical psychologist. Today, he is much healthier and leading a more balanced life,” the parent said.

Mental-health professionals list several common triggers behind suicidal behaviour among youth, including stress, anxiety, lack of support, underlying mental-health disorders, academic pressure, peer pressure and bullying, loneliness and financial stress.

Experts urge parents and guardians to be alert for warning signs such as sudden withdrawal, persistent hopelessness, talk of wanting to die, marked changes in sleep or appetite, sudden shifts in behaviour or an increase in posting or viewing frequent sad content online. Early intervention, open communication and professional help can be life-saving.