Searching suicidal behavior in children and adolescents

PC THOMAS

 Covid-19 has triggered more suicides in India. As per recent media reports, 28 people including 15 men, 9 women, one male youth, and three girls have ended lives by suicide in Chandigarh since the imposition of the countrywide lockdown and its following unlocking. It was also reported that 66 teenagers under the age of 18 have committed suicide in Kerala during lockdown. Suicides are rampant everywhere, as anxiety levels are very high in most cases.

Bollywood star Sushant Singh Rajput life ended in suicide which rocked Indian film industry. In Delhi, TikTok influencer Siya Kakkar, who enjoyed celebrity status with over 1.1 million followers on TikTok died by suicide. Another TikTok teen star ended life by suicide due to depression. These incidents help us understand that every suicide is tragic and is recognized as a public health or social issue in almost every country and it needs to be addressed.

Psychological issues in children are also on the rise.  Every year after the Board exams, we hear about students who are ending their lives because they feel they are unable to live up to the expectation of their families.  Many parents believe, the marks scored determine admission in educational institutions and failure to secure high enough marks, adversely affects their children’s career prospects.

Lockdown triggered emotional strain among children as they are not getting to close together with their peers at school which remain closed in the wake of the pandemic. Besides, there may be declining interest in friends, activities, or hobbies previously enjoyed, domestic issues, lack of parental concern, poor communication between parents and child, parent’s improper way of dealing with the errors committed, that pave the way in spiking the number of suicides among children.  And for elders, reasons for ending their lives may be unemployment, life insecurity, failures, distress, extra marital affairs and so on.

Also Read- Keep mental health while social distancing

 However, while searching common causes of suicide, a few things are definitely clear and need minimum explanation. All suicides are a weep for help. It is when people are most vulnerable that they attempt an act which could be named as outrageously heroic. All suicides are mostly planned and well-contemplated as well as connected to a reason that remains unexplained in most cases. There can’t be a fixed reason rather there are a number of factors that contribute to the fatal act.

In each case of suicide, normally people accuse one person over somebody but do not find time to reflect back and address the problem in a more transparent manner. Why is mental imbalance still a taboo in our society? Why depression, which could be indicative of suicidal behavior, is not taken seriously? And lastly, why caste, gender, social status or popularity are the criteria for labelling or judging someone’s suicide?.

Also Read: Hoping for the best amid pandemic

What we are currently encountering with the Covid-19 pandemic is unusual in late memory. There is a major crisis everywhere, professionally and emotionally. People need a place of safety from their distress. Conveying compassion in the time of emotional crisis is essential. Negativity being spread through the sources of communication is a common cause of conflict between a parent and teenagers therefore parents or guardians should take care of their children. While for many of us the reasons of suicide might often seem meaningless or absurd, there is a small section of people who would defend to deal with it and have both fought it and yield to it. For everyone, it is time to realize that life is not about ending, it is about moving forward.

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