Suicidal thoughts growing among schoolchildren

Psychiatrist Dr Bhooshan Shukla said that every week he counsels at least one or two children to remove suicidal tendencies. There are varying reasons. Some may feel disconnected with what they want to do. There could be additional pressure to do something during the little free time these children get and that does not go down well with them, Shukla said.

“We are seeing more adolescents harbouring feelings of killing themselves. They feel threatened and isolated due to increasing societal pressure. Some come from troubled families and there are cases where the child feels cornered and helpless. Some children harm themselves out of anger,” Shukla added. Suicidal tendencies are seen in children aged 12 years and above,
he explained.

According to Dr Soumitra Pathare, consultant psychiatrist, centre for mental health law and policy at the Indian Law Society (ILS), the reason for suicide among children and adolescents could also be rooted in social problems.

Bullying in schools, like ragging in colleges, is an issue that needs urgent attention, Pathare said. At some level, schools need to sensitise children about bullying and its fallout, he added, pointing out that a depressed person may not necessarily
commit suicide.

Mukta Puntambekar, Director at Muktangan de-addiction centre agrees that there is a rise in cases of children being counselled for a variety of reasons. There are physical and mental changes in the child, at the age of 10 and 11 years, who has to cope with parental and peer pressure. “There is constant comparison with other children and their achievements and the level of competition has increased manifold,” says Puntambekar.

“We are seeing a rise in number of adolescents aged 15 to 16 years addicted to alcohol, drugs, whiteners and internet. Obviously, addiction started two to three years earlier and now they require counselling and treatment,” says Puntambekar.

Out of 150 patients admitted, at least 10 per cent are aged below 25 years.