Teenagers falling in the trap of doom

Nabhit Kapur

With each passing day, teenagers are getting tangled up between the race of life and death. Parents, while giving birth to a child, never imagine encountering their day of last breath. But the amount of this fear is hyping day-by-day along with the increasing number of suicides among teenagers. And one recent example that has left everyone in a devastated state is wrestler Ritika Phogat, the 17-something cousin of the famous wrestler duo sisters, Geeta and Babita Phogat.

Being a psychologist, this isn’t something new I have come across. But this doesn’t change the sum of horror it brings to my mind. As much as we are taking the percentage of suicide among youth lightly, the more it is witnessing an upward trend. Now, the reason behind her suicide was the loss at the state-level juniors final by one point. Was this the only reason that forced and prompted Ritika to take her life? We need to understand the root cause behind it. The thought of attempting suicide doesn’t develop overnight. First, stress hits, then bit by bit it commences and creates a place in the mind. In this case of a teenager. As a result, she starts portraying and constructing a different life altogether. She starts wondering and booming up the pressure of society that begins to kill her every second. Gradually, when things don’t turn up according to the castles built, everything collapses at that point.

This was just one story, of Ritika. There are numerous lives who, even as we discuss this issue, be thinking about attempting suicide. They would be residing or roaming somewhere around us. Still, we won’t be able to grab the hint. The reason could be anything as teenagers are vulnerable and experience physical and mental changes which make them breakable from the mind. It could be related to the studies, peers, parents, or teachers, anything or anyone could be the basis of their suicide.

Despite being an adult, even the thought of failing our aspirations starts tearing us apart from within. The percentage and intensity of the similar scenario are much more in the youngsters. Basis like depression, anxiety, failure of relationships, being bullied, abuse, drug addiction, failing in exams leads to the thought of self-destruction.

To get suicide rate in control, we need to observe the pattern of behaviour followed by children around us. It’s high time that over-pressurising needs to be put on a halt. Rather than just concentrating on the triumph, parents and guardians should talk about cherishing losses. The learning process needs to get adored. Teenagers are defenceless. Therefore, the parents, the teachers or even the guardians need to come up as their defence shield.

If you get a hint that the kid around you is evolving but not in an appropriate manner, then don’t let them remain laced up with it. Never highlight the grey areas of your child. Always appreciate them as even your tiniest gesture can vanish away the thought of suicide or self-harm!

The author is a psychologist, an author, a TEDx speaker and an internationally recognised ambassador for mental health and peace as well as founder president, PeacefulMind Foundation