What would a student do if he is constantly insulted by his teachers, ragged by seniors and nagged at by his parents? Students of Techno India Group put up a skit at their Sector V campus to depict the plight of such a youth. Although the protagonist was on the verge of taking his life, a panel discussion later had experts discussing how to prevent toxic environments that lead to suicide.
The event was held on World Suicide Prevention Day and the moderator of the discussion, Rupa Mukherjee, shared how more than a lakh people in India take their lives every year.
“The reasons include alcohol addiction, chronic diseases, family issues, financial loss, professional issues, mental illness, parental pressure and peer pressure,” said the associate professor of English. “We teachers and parents have a serious role in here. We must know how to deal with troubled students so that in case they have to visit a counselor later on, it is not at a point of no return.”
Lesson for parents
The speakers shared tips to improve parent-child relations. “Many parents mistake a question-answer session for a meaningful conversation. The only thing they ask the child is why they returned home late,” pointed out Smaranika Tripathy, consultant clinical and rehabilitation psychologist at Manipal Hospitals and Belle Vue.
“Another common complaint is that children “prem ey feshe gyachhe’! I tell the parents this is normal. In fact, they should bring the youths to me if they do not fall in love at their age. To those nagging their wards about mobile addiction, how else are they to spend time? Do the parents play badminton with them?” asked the psychologist.
Unlike engineering or medicine, there’s no university for parenting, she pointed out that. “Everyone is experimenting in this aspect of life. And the way you feel lost at times, so do your parents,” she said.
Warning signs
Smaranika Tripathy addresses the audience. Brinda Sarkar
Sritama Mitra Ghosh, head of the psychology department at Techno India University, asked students to pay attention to friends who show signs of withdrawal, don’t feel like talking to anyone, are overcome by a sense of worthlessness, helplessness and hopelessness. “As for ragging, the entire class must unite against bullies,” she said.
Two students Aritra Majumdar and Upama Dasgupta also read out similar warning signs. “Suicidal students may talk of dying, killing themselves or of being a burden to others. There can be a drop in academic performance and an increase in alcohol or drug abuse,” said Upama.
The skit, directed by Debjit Chatterjee, starred Rittam Maitra as the frustrated student driven to suicide.
Stay happy
Debdutta Bera Adhya, principal of Techno India School Public School, Ariadaha, spoke of parents who complain about children having got 97 per cent. “I ask them to focus on the 97 he got and not the three marks he lost. Parents demand the world but are they perfect themselves?” she asked.
Their school has a mentorship programme whereby every teacher is in charge of 10 students. This way the kids can turn to a trusted adult for any kind of help.
Tripathy said life has to have ups and downs and that there was no guarantee that all would be okay after suicide. “The other side is completely unknown whereas here at least you have a few people on your side,” she reasoned.
Manoshi Roy Chowdhury, co-chairperson, Techno India Group, said that despite suicide being a negative term, one cannot ignore it. “Sometime back I heard about a lady who jumped off her New Town highrise balcony when her son announced his decision to settle abroad. Her suicide also affected her family, friends and neighbours. We conducted this session as we all need to know how to deal with and avert such situations.”