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Parents must ask kids about their day’s activities: Psychologists
In order to understand what transpires in the mind of the victims, a psychologist said, it’s crucial to know what kind of things they are exposed to through technology.
The suicide of a Class 9 student, allegedly spurred by a teacher’s rebuke, in Jaipur last week has not only evoked shock among people but also prompted them to have serious concerns regarding their own children.
Psychologists said the student might not have taken the extreme step had he shared his worries with friends or the family.
Parents must take out time for the kids and ask them every day about their day’s activities, said Fiza Hasni, a psychiatrist at a private hospital in Jaipur.
“Everyone, especially adolescents, must vent their feelings and share their anxieties with others. When the worries keep piling up, they sometimes result in suicides,” she said.
Hasni said the impulsivity is high among teens and they often take too much stress over rebukes. “The teens just don’t like being told what to do and what not to do,” she added.
In order to understand what transpires in the mind of the victims, another psychologist said, it’s crucial to know what kind of things they are exposed to through technology. “In this particular case, it’s possible that there were other factors but the rebuking incident was the trigger,” said Sushila Pareek, associate professor of psychology at University of Rajasthan.
She said parents must use their authority judiciously and in an extremely measured fashion. “Times have changed. The behaviour of teens has become extremely unpredictable now. Rather than focusing too much on their career, parents and teachers must shift their focus to the wellbeing and happiness of the young students,” said Pareek.
Hasni said parents must engage with children sensitively and regularly, and tell them that no matter what happens, they’ll always stand by them.
