Make room for healthy conversation with teens

Suicide rates among students have increased at an alarming rate in the past few years. Though technology has given us various comforts and luxuries, somewhere we have lost ability to manage our inner wellbeing. No wonder there are more problems relating to mental health these days not only with grownups but with children as well. Here are some steps that can be taken to prevent suicide among students. All problems can be sorted out through communication. There should be proper channels of communication in educational institutions between student-teacher, teacher-parent and among students as well. At home, parents should have healthy communication and children should feel free to share their problems with their parents. Lifestyle skills should be introduced as a part of curriculum which are not just theoretical but also include practical aspects to it. Self-care is taking care of one's body, mind and soul. Ability to say no and being assertive, self-acceptance, learning to let go, not comparing oneself with others are a few skills which can be taught using various tools and methods, making easy for children to incorporate these skills in their life. Problem-solving techniques should also be taught so that children can learn how to solve their own problems. The best gift to a child is not only to make him independent and teach him how to live well for himself but also make him an individual who finds happiness in uplifting others as well. This way, suicides among students can be prevented. All that is needed is some concern and involvement.

Vipasha Kamat

Get teenagers regularly counselled

Suicide among students is common these days. Pressure of studies, non-fulfillment of demands, online hazardous games etc are some of the common reasons behind this. Parents and teachers play vital role in child's life and they need to come forward for solving this issue. They should create a healthy environment around child. They must teach them the importance of sharing ideas and problems. Parents must continuously observe the child and his/her activities. Seminars and workshops should be conducted in schools for addressing this problem where children must be taught that suicide is not the solution to any problem. Mental psychology of a child should be checked at regular intervals by organising camps in schools. If needed, parents should consult psychiatrists without any hesitation and shame. Moreover, there is a need to inculcate moral values and social ethics among students.

Ritu Priya

Parents should spend quality time with teens

In India, nearly 90 per cent youth are suffering from mental illness or depression. Parental pressure and lack of understanding are some of the main reasons behind increasing cases of suicides among students. Parents are too busy in their professional lives that they are not able to spend quality time with their kids. Comparing your child with other children creates a feeling of jealousy and insecurity, which not only leads to depression but also sometimes kids take extreme steps such as suicide. Parents increasing expectations from their children are also common causes of suicides.

Aman Preet

Do not pressurise students to score high marks

Depression and social isolation are the main reasons for suicide. Suicides can be prevented by listening to the person who is going through depression. Seek professional help. Parents should not pressurise their children. Work on creating such a bond with your child that they share their feelings with you without any hesitation. Spend quality time your children when they are young. Inculcate a habit of exercise and meditation among your children.

Amarpreet Kaur

Involve your child in day-to-day activities

It is said that "student life is golden life," because student life is the most important part of human life. At the same time, it is the period when there is a dire need of guidance, direction and counselling to mend children's behaviour if teachers, parents or friends notice any distress in their behaviour. Students must also share their problems with their parents, friends or elders. The main reasons behind increasing cases of suicides are mental illness, depression, conduct disorder and substance abuse. Besides these, there may be family stress or situational crises such as change in behaviour, appearance, thoughts and feelings etc. We must listen to children with patience and should focus on their wellbeing and avoid being accusatory. We must extend help to them and should provide constant supervision. If your child is in depression, take help from his friends and consult a psychologist and his teachers. Provide family support. Communicate with your child continuously. Involve your child in day-to-day activities.

Dr Mohd Saleem Farooqui

Involve them in taking daily decisions

Depression and suicidal thoughts are the two main fighting things a person can face in his lifetime. But the tendency of suicides among students is a very alarming situation not only for parents, but for society as a whole. Students are the builders of the nation and this type of tendency in their behaviour is very serious for elders, teachers and parents. If we find any change in their behaviour or they look depressed, we should take care of them. If ignores, things might turn ugly. They must be listened with patience and we should not leave them alone in these circumstances. They must be involved in some games, religious activities and other social tasks. In case of failure and other illness, they must be counselled and positivity must be created in their minds to face any failure in their life. Teachers, parents and other elders must play their role positively to drag them out from very distress situations. They should not feel lonely. They must be taken to tours, play grounds and markets to bring change in their thoughts. Involve them in taking daily decisions and activities so they feel important.

Farzana Khan 

Prevention lies in a strong support system

Any student, who commits suicide, goes through extreme pain that defies explanation, even to them. However, suicide is preventable, provided people around the sufferer understand what drives students to commit such a desperate act. Parents, teachers and peers can contribute in decreasing the suicide rate by timely recognising mood changes among their children, students and friends, respectively. Students will be fall victim to sudden sadness, boredom, irritability or anxiety, loss of interest or pleasure in activities they used to enjoy, and eating or sleeping too much or too little. These signs if caught in time, can play an important role in motivating and instlling a positive attitude among students. Besides, one should never ignore the warning signs and take immediate action to keep their life safe. Listen to what they are saying without any judgments, don't be dismissive of their experiences or emotions, don't leave them alone until you are sure, remove all potential means of suicide such as pills, knives, razors and firearms. Never take warning signs lightly or keep them a secret. If they need medication, encourage them to take it every day without making it a taboo. Most importantly, effective suicide and violence prevention lies in a strong support system. Encourage them to do new things. It will be tough at first, but to do new things will introduce them to new hobbies, new people and new perspectives. And having something new to focus on can help themselves to put the past behind. Always try to identify the trigger to find out what lead the student to become depressed? What thoughts send him/her into a tailspin? What situations are too overwhelming to handle? Pinpoint these issues with the help of your mental health counsellor.

Ravi Chander Garg

Excelling in exams not the only criteria for success

It is believed that many parents want to realise their dreams through their children. Whatever is not achieved by them, they want their children to achieve for them, and hence they put undue pressure upon their children to excel in a particular subject or field in which the child may not even be interested. Why does a doctor's child has to be a doctor and an engineer's child an engineer? Why do parents can't think beyond doctors and engineers? In today's world, there are innumerable choices for students to make their career in. parents should let the child choose his/her own career and excel in that. Coming out with flying colors in examinations is not the only criteria for success in life. Child should be given an opportunity to exploit their talent, allow them to introspect and give them chance to explore their interest. Children of today's times are very smart. They belong to the era of smart world with smart phones. Parents should have faith in their children and let them decide their own flight, otherwise cases of suicides among students will only increase.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi

Seeking psychiatric help is completely normal

When a teen attempts suicide, it reflects on the emotional state and capacity of a country. There are multiple reasons why teens become suicidal. It rarely has just one cause. The teen years are an extremely stressful time for many. Depression among teens goes unnoticed in most cases and remains an untreated mental illness all through teen years. It is also the leading cause for suicide among students. Students become depressed due various reasons such as illness in the family, loss of family or friends, feeling lonely, helplessness and despondence among others. Effective medical treatment for mental and physical health problems can protect teens from becoming suicidal. A strong support network of friends, family, peer groups and outside activities play an equally important role in solving problems, resolving conflicts and handling disputes without violence. These are effective methods to reduce chances of suicide among teens. Parents, teachers and peer groups if find their kid, students and friends feel lonely, witness a pattern in expresses disturbing thoughts or discover him trying to obtain pills or other means to kill him/her, then they should not ignore these warning signs and act immediately. Emotional support can go a long way in changing the attitude of a student with suicidal tendencies. Parents should be able to talk to their kids openly without considering suicidal tendency a taboo. Psychiatric help is still considered a taboo in our country. Parents need to rise above the taboo and seek help from psychiatrist if needed and get their child properly counselled.

Jasdeep Kaur

Listen to children without any judgment

Depression and suicidal thoughts are one of the most frightening things a person can face in their lifetime. In today's fact paced time, life is full of stress and its influence is prominent in the young generation. School life is the most pleasant and wonderful phase of a student's life and ideally should be free from stress. But in today's era, it has become the most stressful phase of students' life. The main reason behind this is that parents do not have the time to entertain their children. The need of the hour is for parents to take out time for their children and listen to what is going on in their children's lives without any judgment. Stress is one of the major factors that lead to suicidal tendencies among students. If parents and teachers listen to kids and counsel them from time to time, students will not feel alone and suicide rates can be brought down.

Prabhdeep Rai

Hold regular motivational seminars for students

Nowadays, we come across many suicide cases in the newspaper, most of them which are of teenagers and youngsters. There are several personal and professional reasons for which students end up committing suicide but the most common among them is depression. This can be prevented by inspiring students through motivational seminars. Regular counselling should also be done in schools. Parents play the most important role in helping their kids develop a positive attitude in life. They should spend time with their children and ask them about their problems to develop a bond of mutual respect rather than fear. 

Savleen Kaur

Develop a bond of mutual respect rather than fear

To prevent suicide among teens, it is must for parents to know about the root cause of the problem. Helping their kids foster a positive attitude in life will help them in overcoming distress. Support of family members and better understanding will surely decrease cases of suicides among students. By providing children a healthy environment to grow up in and care needed during the phase of suicidal depression, will help them deveop a stronger bond with their parents. These are effective methods which can help to solve suicidal tendencies. Skills in problem solving, conflict resolution and non-violent ways of handling disputes are also some other ways to solve this problem. Suicide is the major cause of death among students and must be curbed as soon as possible.

Niranjan Kaur

Do not take warning signs of suicidal tendency lightly

Suicide is the leading cause of death among students. However, it is preventable. Youth, who are contemplating suicide, give warning signs of their distress. Parents, teachers and friends can pick up on these signs, if observed carefully, and help them before it's too late. The most important thing is to never take these warning signs lightly. The youth, who is feeling signs of distress, should also not keep the signs a secret and talk to someone they can to seek help. Sometimes, the youths who are suicidal, are not likely to seek help directly; however parents, teachers and peers can recognise the warning signs and take immediate action to help the person in distress. When all will commit to make suicide prevention a priority, only then we can help the youth before they engage in a behaviour with irreversible consequences.

Pushkar Jain

Help depressed youth restore faith in life

Every year, suicide is among the top 20 leading causes of death globally among people of all ages, most cases of which are reported are of students. Suicide is preventable. A lot can be done to prevent suicide at individual and community levels. Suicides can be prevented by encouraging the distressed, not isolating them from family and friends, recommending positivity excercises, talking to them about their feelings and standing by them in the times of need to restore their faith in life.

Manavjot singh

Pay regular attention to mood of teenagers

Nowadays, suicide among students has become the biggest concern in the city. Newspapers are filled with reports suicide by students due to one reason or the other. There are numerous ways to prevent suicide among students, one of them is paying regular attention to teenagers. Parents should spend time with their teen kids, ask them about their problems and help them in solving the same. May a time, the main reason of suicide among students is increased burden of studies. Parents should help their teen kids in lessening the burden of studies by spending quality time with them and stay updated to what is happening in their lives. They should also encourage children not to isolate themselves from family and friends.

Gurleen Kaur 

Provide a friendly environment at home

Teenage is the most important period of one's life. It is in this age only, the nature of a person is developed. All kinds of thoughts, good and bad, occupy the mind of teenagers. One such bad thought is suicide, which has become a huge problem among teenagers these days. In the list of people who commit suicide, the highest cases will be those of students. Immediate steps needed to be taken to overcome this problem. The most important role is played by parents. A healthy environment should be provided to children at home so that they don't feel scared to share problems with their parents. 

Vaibhav Bajaj

Do not compare your children with others'

Despite of compulsory counselling sessions in schools and colleges, there has been an increase in suicide cases among the youth. It has become the need of the hour to resolve the issue and prevent more youth from taking such extreme steps. Even a single case encourages others to take such drastic steps. The youth, nowadays, is extremely sensitive when it comes to self-respect and self-esteem. It is the responsibility of parents to spend quality time with their children and build a healthy relationship. They must deal with the mistakes their children make with a positive attitude rather than hitting them. This decreases confidence among the youth and they feel unsafe in sharing their feelings with parents.  A healthy relationship with family and friends can help prevent suicide. A healthy parenting style is must to curb this issue. Moreover, there is a need to understand the youth on the basis of their perspective. The generation gap gives rise to a lot of conflicts and when the youth's perspective is ignored all the time, their stress level increases as they feel nobody understands what they are going through, and they tend to take drastic steps. Suicide does not happen over a single issue. There are a lot of factors that accumulated and remain unsolved that students feel the need to take their own lives. Children must be taught not to take stress of studies. All work and no play will drive them insane. Hobbies, outings and meditation sessions can help them cope with stress. Parents must also accept their children the way they are and not compare them to other children. Their uniqueness must be appreciated and supported. Students, too, need to understand that suicide is not the solution to the petty issues.

Brahamjyot Kaur

Enhance resilience, inculcate life skills

Being one of the leading causes of death, the rising suicide rates can be curbed by recognising warning signs such as hopelessness, self-destructive behaviour, a sudden sense of calm and social isolation among adolescents. We need to acknowledge and address this growing problem. There is a need to learn from countries such as New Zealand and the UK, which have well thought out preventive strategies. Besides physical fitness, mental health should also be respected as a fundamental right. Moreover, it is important to enhance resilience and inculcate life skills among children. Someone has aptly said once, even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.

Akash

Exams are not matter of life and death

It is again that time of year when exams are just round the corner and so is stress and anxiety in students. Students giving up on life due to mounted pressure and tension are something which happens every year. First and foremost, parents should pledge not keep unattainable hopes from their children because a child sees their worth from parents' eyes. Secondly, boost their morale rather than instilling fear. It is important to tell them that exams are not matter of life and death. Thirdly, engage students in meditation and physical activity. Most importantly, keep an open communication channel so that a child can discuss openly and seek medical help if needed.

Neeti Marwaha

Be friends with your kids

Suicide by students does not surprise many today. Students are often seen as immature and innocent to take such a difficult step. But if one has to look for reasons, they don't have to go far before realsing that root cause of many suicides is either academic and peer pressure or bullying. What parents can do is encourage their kids to study rather than pressurising them to score high marks all the time. Parents need to identify the anti-social elements in their children's life. They need to be friends with their kids first and develop a bond so that their kids feel confident to discuss their problems with them. If they find a sudden change in their children's behaviour, they must talk to them about their problem and seek help if required. Anurav Saini

Teach kids to not to run away from problems

Why does someone commit suicide? There are a lot of reasons, major of them being financial tensions, parental pressure, invalid expectations and many more. The main reason behind students committing suicide is emotional immaturity, parental pressure and bullying. Before committing suicide, students do not think about their families, the ones who have to bear the pain of losing their loved ones. The solution to problems and failures in life is not suicide. Parents should develop such a relation with their kids that they teach them to face problems rather than running away from it, work hard, think positive and always have faith in them. Suhani

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OPEN HOUSE COMMENT
Role of counsellers in schools important

Minna Zutshi

E ducational institutions should have conselling psychologists on their panel. In fact, the role of counsellers in schools and colleges is so important that there should be a provision that makes it mandatory for educational institutions to have psychologists who interact regularly with the students. Instead of leaving the youngsters on their own to grapple with their emotional and psychological issues, the educational institutions should provide them the option of seeking the expert help. Psychologists are equipped to help the individuals handle their problems. A battery of tests, interviews or just informal interaction can help to identify a disturbed youngster who needs psychological help and support. Many times teachers just fail to realise that the youngsters are vulnerable and that their disturbed mental state may put them in a precarious position – they can be a threat to their own safety and can inflict self-harm. Families have a very responsible role to play here. Experts say that encouraging your children to share their thoughts and feelings with you is a positive step. Let them ‘talk out’ their fears, apprehensions and misgivings with you. A vigilant parent who shows openness, love, care and concern is usually able to decide when his son/daughter needs the help of a psychologist.