Mumbai, it's time to focus on your kids' mental health
Ismat Tahseen |
There's nothing more tragic
than a young life cut short. In April, 24-year-old college student
Vishal Bhardwaj had shocked Mumbai by announcing his suicide on social
media, barely moments before jumping off a high-rise hotel in Bandra.
And last week saw Mumbai grappling
last week saw Mumbai grappling with the news of another tragic death. In
the latest incident, a 14-year-old boy leaped to his death from the
terrace of the building in which he stayed. The cops are still probing
if the boy , Manpreet Sahans, was playing the dangerous `Blue Whale'
dare-based game or if there was another reason that triggered the act.
Amid speculation about how children are more vulnerable to the dark side
of the web, these incidents also highlight the alarming need for
greater support for the city's kids and preteens, in order to help them
overcome mental health issues that they may go through.
`SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION CAN BE HIDDEN'
In the case of Manpreet, reports state that he was regular with academics and extracurricular activities. He also loved basketball and cricket and cracking jokes with his friends. In short, there was no visible signs of depression. However, city-based psychiatrist Dr Harish Shetty says, “The symptoms of depression and other mental health issues can be just as much hidden in kids and teens as adults. And often, they are ignored. So many parents say , `We did not know or child is depressed; we thought he's just being quiet'.There are red flags to watch out for. Look for these symptoms --poor concentration that starts suddenly , talking about wanting to meet God, surfing sites for suicidal methods, wanting to run away from the house in a suicide statement, sudden anger and irritability towards parents, clinging excessively to parents or teachers, picking fights with rickshaw drivers and non-teaching staff, wanting to explore the upper stories in a school or other buildings, losing weight and developing either an excessive or poor appetite, apart from sadness and crying. Another rare symptom is sympathising with those who have already harmed themselves and supporting their action. If you see these, con sult mental health professionals and not an astrologer,“ he warns. “Often, when a nor mally aggres sive child becomes extremely well behaved, it's time to go for a mental health screen ing,“ he adds.
SHOCKING STATS `HELPLINE CALLS FROM YOUNGSTERS ON THE RISE'
Johnson Thomas, who works for a Mumbai-based helpline for suicide prevention, says, “In the last one week alone, we have received close to 180 calls a day , of which 45 were from young adults in the 14 25 age group.
There are kids who say that they are depressed and can not study. Some even talk of wanting to end their lives. The reasons may vary , but it's mostly about being alone, losing friends and not feeling like doing anything. These kids want to consult counsellors, but are afraid of how their families will react. Since they are too young to reach counsellors on their own, it's the parents' responsibility to understand their plight. What is even more disturbing is that we have also been getting calls from teens, who want to play the Blue Whale game as it has garnered so much negative attention.For those who are on the verge of depression, this can be fatal. We are actually looking at a ticking time bomb that may explode if access to the game is not denied and if adults do not look at depression as a wakeup call.“
IMMEDIATE NEED OUR CITY HAS NO SUPPORT GROUPS FOR THE YOUNGER LOT
The emotional well-being of youngsters is largely ignored, feel experts.Dr Aleeka Kumar, psychodynamic psychotherapist, says, “ Apart from the school counsellor, we don't see any help being available for them. There is also a lack of understanding about therapy and mental help. When it comes to therapy , parents still think, `There is something is wrong with my child'. So, as adults, we need to acknowledge that emotional wellbeing is as crucial for development and survival. Why don't parents come together and form an informal support group and include a therapist as part of it? Mumbai is a city of initiatives, why can't this happen?“
THE WAY OUT `GO FOR REGULAR CHECK-UPS, WHY WAIT UNTIL RISK ARISES?'
The need of the hour is regular mental health check-ups. Do not wait to consult a counsellor till you realise that someone is at a risk of ending his life. Developmental pediatrician Anjana Thadani says that many lives can be saved if parents, teachers or even friends act on the symptoms. “We have been neglecting mental health issues of kids and adolescents all this while. Do not ignore their mood changes and swing into action right away . Always keep the channel of communication open and take your kids for mental health check-ups on a half-yearly basis,“ she advises.
In the case of Manpreet, reports state that he was regular with academics and extracurricular activities. He also loved basketball and cricket and cracking jokes with his friends. In short, there was no visible signs of depression. However, city-based psychiatrist Dr Harish Shetty says, “The symptoms of depression and other mental health issues can be just as much hidden in kids and teens as adults. And often, they are ignored. So many parents say , `We did not know or child is depressed; we thought he's just being quiet'.There are red flags to watch out for. Look for these symptoms --poor concentration that starts suddenly , talking about wanting to meet God, surfing sites for suicidal methods, wanting to run away from the house in a suicide statement, sudden anger and irritability towards parents, clinging excessively to parents or teachers, picking fights with rickshaw drivers and non-teaching staff, wanting to explore the upper stories in a school or other buildings, losing weight and developing either an excessive or poor appetite, apart from sadness and crying. Another rare symptom is sympathising with those who have already harmed themselves and supporting their action. If you see these, con sult mental health professionals and not an astrologer,“ he warns. “Often, when a nor mally aggres sive child becomes extremely well behaved, it's time to go for a mental health screen ing,“ he adds.
SHOCKING STATS `HELPLINE CALLS FROM YOUNGSTERS ON THE RISE'
Johnson Thomas, who works for a Mumbai-based helpline for suicide prevention, says, “In the last one week alone, we have received close to 180 calls a day , of which 45 were from young adults in the 14 25 age group.
There are kids who say that they are depressed and can not study. Some even talk of wanting to end their lives. The reasons may vary , but it's mostly about being alone, losing friends and not feeling like doing anything. These kids want to consult counsellors, but are afraid of how their families will react. Since they are too young to reach counsellors on their own, it's the parents' responsibility to understand their plight. What is even more disturbing is that we have also been getting calls from teens, who want to play the Blue Whale game as it has garnered so much negative attention.For those who are on the verge of depression, this can be fatal. We are actually looking at a ticking time bomb that may explode if access to the game is not denied and if adults do not look at depression as a wakeup call.“
IMMEDIATE NEED OUR CITY HAS NO SUPPORT GROUPS FOR THE YOUNGER LOT
The emotional well-being of youngsters is largely ignored, feel experts.Dr Aleeka Kumar, psychodynamic psychotherapist, says, “ Apart from the school counsellor, we don't see any help being available for them. There is also a lack of understanding about therapy and mental help. When it comes to therapy , parents still think, `There is something is wrong with my child'. So, as adults, we need to acknowledge that emotional wellbeing is as crucial for development and survival. Why don't parents come together and form an informal support group and include a therapist as part of it? Mumbai is a city of initiatives, why can't this happen?“
THE WAY OUT `GO FOR REGULAR CHECK-UPS, WHY WAIT UNTIL RISK ARISES?'
The need of the hour is regular mental health check-ups. Do not wait to consult a counsellor till you realise that someone is at a risk of ending his life. Developmental pediatrician Anjana Thadani says that many lives can be saved if parents, teachers or even friends act on the symptoms. “We have been neglecting mental health issues of kids and adolescents all this while. Do not ignore their mood changes and swing into action right away . Always keep the channel of communication open and take your kids for mental health check-ups on a half-yearly basis,“ she advises.
Source : Aug 08 2017
:
The Times of India
(NaviMumbai)
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