Adolescence is a challenging period marked by emotional, physical and psychological changes. Teenagers vulnerable to mental health struggles, hence rising rates of teenage suicide. To highlight the urgent need for parental awareness and intuition, Dr Sanjeev Kalra, MD, Neuropsychiatry, Associate Professor and Clinical Training Director, Maharishi International University, Fairfield, Iowa, United States speaks with THIP Media. To watch the entire interview, click on the link below:
Q. How can a child develop suicidal tendencies? If they are detached from parents?
Teenagers or adolescent age is a transition time— severe stress, self doubts, embarrassment, and isolation. This is when they feel challenges. Hence, in such situations, at times they can cope and otherwise, they’re confused if their parents could understand them or not.
They tend to think as a result, with several perspectives. They develop emotions of helplessness, hopelessness after facing traumatic incidents within or outside the family. For example, they might be closely observant of their parents’ separation. They also worry about their parents. But a confusion of misunderstanding between them and their parents, leads to a gap. This deficit is also a turning point.
Q. Do mental health disorders like depression and anxiety have an impact on teenage suicidal rates?
Yes. Specifically, depression, anxiety and substance abuse (nowadays among teenagers) can increase the suicidal rates. Studies show that the majority of individuals who take their lives have a diagnosable mental health condition at the time of their death. Depression is the most common. Despair can increase the risk of societal thoughts and behaviours. Hence, immediate support from parents, teachers, caretakers, and health providers must be there.
Q. Does social bullying and cyberbullying contribute to it?
The above two are interconnected. Whether the bullying is in person or cyberbullying, we call it as it is. Due to stress, it can contribute to cyber behaviour in teenagers. There’s a growing tendency of glueing themselves to the screen be it for games or even some applications. So, challenges/stimulations coming from such places have an equal amount of pressure/stress on them. This makes them impulsive and in turn, this can create long lasting health issues.
Q. How can parents recognise the warning signs of suicidal thoughts?
Parents and guardians, or teachers even have a critical role. The ongoing career rat race demands achievement at any cost. There are self-expectations and from the family, creates unnecessary stress. So, it’s necessary for the parents to observe the early signs and talk to their teens in an indirect way so that they do not feel exposed. Some common signs are hopeless, helpless, worthless. There’s sleep patterns. They change, precisely, ‘anhedonia’, where they don’t feel like enjoying where there is to be enjoyed. Slowly, they go into isolation. These teens will get irritated easily or even a small spark can make them angry.
Q. Are there any school-based programs for preventing teenage suicides?
The national education policy makes it mandatory in schools in India, that they must employ a full-time psychologist or counsellor. On the other hand, if the students trust the teachers, the students can convey their messages to them also. This means teens can ask for help from teachers as well. Unfortunately, due to COVID or other associated reasons, teens don’t find it convenient to talk to teachers. They also think, why anybody would help them anyway.
Q. What are the resources and support systems for such teenagers?
There are several resources. The Government of India has an initiative- Tele-MANAS (Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States) launched in 2022. Their services can be leveraged through this value mental health assistance where they can open up. Besides, it’s totally confidential.
The user can navigate the initial symptoms and signs. They can talk to the psychiatrist or specific people, particularly people who are responsible for these services. Then, the National Suicide Prevention Strategy (NSPS) was launched in 2022. This is to reduce the suicidal rates in India.
Q. How can peers and friends support a teenager who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts?
Peers or the inner circle matters. They should be empathetic and trustworthy. Friends should also be there to understand or help a friend who is under severe depression or anxiety conditions. They should be able to convey at least these symptoms with the teachers or parents. This should be private, not publicly. So, respect for privacy among peers is another dimension. Peers should uphold your integrity and self esteem.
Q. What are the do’s and the don’ts?
We should respect teenagers- their integrity and self esteem. As teenagers, they are individualistic. We need to maintain transparency with them: to understand them, to understand their feelings. We as the one who’s been in similar situations, shouldn’t nag them or challenge them. Parental actions shouldn’t provoke suicidal thoughts among them.
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