One always thought that these happened “not to us”. I am devastated because some incidents have struck close to home. It is unnerving. Teenagers taking their own lives? With a whole life ahead of them? Is it stress? Mental issues? Did we have them while growing up? Even if we did, somehow our generation managed to circumvent these. There were no tragedies.

We grew up being reprimanded all the time. Correct ways of behavior, studies, toeing the line, discipline, the list was / is endless. Threats to be disinherited or outcast were flung often. The last thing I, of my generation thought of doing was taking my life. Others’ , maybe yes but never mine!

youngsters from sensible families, informed parents, good schools, good grades, what has gone horribly wrong? One of them was due to relentless ragging by peers, isolating, ghosting. He kept these issues close to him and one day he went and a slew of messages surfaced on his phone, a trail leading to probable reasons for the unfortunate death. Could that be the only reason. Could it also be due to children nowadays not being equipped to deal with losing, low self esteem, in this world of winners.

A teenager taking his / her life breaks my heart in smithereens. It needs courage, or is it just driven by a mad moment, strength of purpose? Why, why, why? An abusive background, poor at studies, peer pressure, etc one can understand as catalysts. For no ostensible reason, I simply cant fathom why?

Joint families, many siblings provided stability and support earlier. In school we studied with the richest of rich but never knew them to be so. Uniforms, similar pencil boxes, the Ambassador car as maybe the only brand available provided an equalness like no other. Today the children are divided not only by overt status symbols but choice of food, religion, beliefs, performance in school studies, the list keeps growing longer, as the world gets polarized and parents allow their kids to soak up their ideologies unwittingly.

The refrain nowadays is that one should detect the signs of anxiety and counsel the child. Till a while ago there were not many mental health professionals. Adults hardly went to them and taking children to them was unheard of. I guess these are changing times and the need for professional help seems the call. Is it really necessary? Isnt it upto the parents and educators to provide a stable environment, pick up clues and nip it in the bud. Working parents, large classrooms perhaps make it unfeasible. Then again, don’t we have a responsibility as crucial links in the chain to be mindful.

A life short-lived is not what any person wants especially for one’s who are just starting their life’s journey. The loss of a child is not easy to reconcile, for parents, losing a child suddenly, unnaturally is inconsolable, maybe forever as one will never know the reason why. My heart weeps for them.

A sensible connection with a child with no unrealistic pressures may just be the simplest solution.