Desperate for a Solution

The report of an IIT student committing suicide a couple of days ago, in the newspaper, was not as unsettling as it could have been, had it happened a few years ago. Students committing suicide is on the increase, a common news item everyday.

The causes seem to be quite obvious:

Stress, loneliness, anxiety, not able to live up to the expectations of parents or teachers, harassment by senior students or peer group, lost and confused by the transitional period of school to college- these are mere words when we consider the depth of mental depression the child undergoes before committing the irredeemable act.

It gives us a jolt when we come to know that matters of little consequence play havoc in the life of a student and the people around him. Earlier this month,a student in Mumbai, committed suicide, for, he was caught and reprimanded for copying. The moral values have undergone a twist and the act of copying as such is not considered  so much a disgrace as receiving punishment. The result is punishing the people who meted out  the punishment by committing suicide.

A student committed suicide because, the group she opted for was refused by the authorities of the Institution. One wonders if she had no other alternative than suicide.

Ragging is a menace which drives some students to the extent of sacrificing their precious lives.
Some  parents think their children are extraordinary and expect more than what could be achieved by them. Some teachers are harassed into producing good results and they transfer their stress on the students.

Such causes are only the tip of the iceberg. The life of  a student has become a lot more stressful and this is a fact which cannot be denied.

Prevention of suicide should be made effective in schools and colleges, by conducting programmes, to create awareness among the students about the futility of putting an end to one’s own life.

If a student is suspected to be suffering depression, his near ones should look for warning signs of suicide.
 Detachment, withdrawn behaviour or sudden mood swings are giveaways.
Better to get depression treated  before it gets morbid.

It should be made known that depression cannot be treated by self. Only a doctor can treat.
 Offer of support by parents and friends will help a lot.

websites like www.save.org, www.suicide-helplines.org offer help to depressed students.
Above all those who want to end their lives should be made to understand that it is an utterly selfish act and they are not sacrificing themselves for a cause