Rozina Asif
INCREASING trend of suicide in young
students calls for awareness, education and
great vigilance for all of us as parents, educationists, and above all as human beings, because life, no matter who’s, is priceless and extremely valuable and suicides at this increasing rate reflects upon our casual and complacent attitude. We all expect more and give less. We usually express our own mindset, knowledge and experience through our words and actions but we are hardly concerned about what these young minds are going through due to increased competitions, expectations and social pressures.
We as parents expect our child to be perfect, excelling in all the fields, but truth be told everyone is made in a unique way and accounts for different innate talents, our biggest failure is that we train them to be like us rather than teaching them to explore their innate qualities and training them to excel in that. However, this increased tragic trend of young suicides is raising serious questions about our style of teaching and parenting and overall, our behavior as humans.
We need to analyze ourselves as custodians of these young souls and must answer these following questions. • Are we trained enough to train and teach this new generation? • Are we preparing our children for our past or for their future? • We are working day and night as a parent for their better life, but are we really working hard to provide them with healthy and a more complete lifestyle? • Is it enough to stop them from harmful things? Or should we explain why it is harmful and provide them with better alternatives. • Are we good listeners or we just impose things on them as a parent or as a teacher? • Do we really need a high achiever in academics only or a wholesome holistic personality? • Are we aware of their problems or are we just concerned about achievements? • Are we really teaching them how to cope with failure? • Are they given enough chance to select their own subject and field? If yes then are we providing them enough help to resolve related issues by understanding and developing chemistry with them? • Do we really think every child on this earth can be the topper in the class? If not, then are we planning our teaching/talks according to mixed abilities of the group? • Are we a true mentor? A true mentor does not only allow the student to excel in a particular field but also teaches them to overcome their problems and failures.
We need to analyze all of this before it is too late. Any sign of depression must catch our attention and we should be willing enough to take action. There is no harm in consulting a specialist or a therapist as suicide can be contiguous and can damage so many simultaneously. It is very important to listen to them even when they are not speaking, encourage them not to isolate themselves from family and friends. Do not demand too much from them, appreciate whatever they are and guide and help them to achieve slowly and progressively. Encourage them to try new things, to gain energy instead of going into depression because of small failures. If a young soul is committing suicide it means that we as a society is failing in fulfilling our social and moral duties. Life is a beautiful gift, enjoy it and help others, while it lasts.
—The writer is an educationist based in Islamabad.
Suicide and depression in youth
