Last week, a 15-year-old boy, about to appear in the upcoming CBSE exam, committed suicide in our locality. Family sources are trying to make it look like an accident, but according to the boy’s friends, the boy had succumbed to the continuous pressure thrust upon him by his family. The pressure of ‘best’ performance, the desire to be the numero uno in every aspect of life are affecting the teenage minds. The fear of not finishing as the topper is pushing them to the brink of self-destruction.

India Tops The Chart For Suicide Cases Among Youths Aged 15-29

You are reading it correctly. According to the Lancet Report of 2012, report of NCCB (National Crime Control Bureau) of 2015 *these are the ‘latest’ ones*, every hour a student commits suicide in India! The reality is shocking and, we don’t need any highfalutin jargon to understand that.

Are We Responsible In Some Way?

Nowadays, in all the cities and even in rural areas, nuclear family with a single child is a common practice. The burden of expectation from the parents is ruining the innocence of childhood. The parents want to fulfil their unfulfilled dreams, unattainable ambitions through the child. A happy child slowly becomes a victim; of the society and the education system of this country.

Note To The Parents

Our children already feel the peer pressure in schools. They need love and assurance at home that everything is under control. As parents, it’s important to encourage them and inspire them in the right way. My son has interest in Mathematics, but he doesn’t want to pursue science. In such cases, it’s better to choose the commerce stream instead of science. What is germane to my discussion is, that it’s important to respect the decision of our children, to understand their intention and interest while taking decisions about their education or career. Students often fall under the parental and societal pressure of pursuing a career of a doctor/engineer and end up with drastic effects.

Researchers further reveal that young people often find it difficult to cope up with failures. Non-cooperation from the family has deleterious consequences. A failure doesn’t mean the end of life. Rather, it could be the lesson of a lifetime.

Parental Guidance and Encouragement

A friendly approach always helps. Children should be provided with a feeling of security, compassion and camaraderie; that they have the support of their parents even when the whole world is against them. This contentment is essential to maintain the equilibrium of life. India is witnessing sweeping changes in socioeconomic, socio-philosophical and cultural arenas. While it’s comparatively easier for adults to get accustomed to these changes, students, especially teenagers are the most vulnerable ones and are prone to mistakes.
Parental guidance with love and friendship could be of great help to understand their intentions and attitude.

It’s of utmost importance to develop self-confidence in our children. Suicidal mentality often develops from helplessness and lack of confidence. We, as parents, should try to develop their inner strength and resources so that they can cope with the harshness life often thrust upon them.

“Behind every young child who believes in himself, is a parent who believed first”

Parenting is not a competition. Nor it has any rule book to follow. Every child is unique. As parents, we should support and encourage them to bring out the best.

Image Sources: Dawn.com
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