SUICIDE

I just came back from a visit to India. Watching the news and reading newspapers brought a disturbing fact to my attention. I am not a writer, by no means but........reading all this info in the papers has motivated me to write about it. Several thoughts are going through my mind and I felt that the public needs to be aware of this serious issue plaguing the Indian communities today. Teen suicides. I was not aware that India has one of the highest amount of suicide rates in the world and that Bangalore is the suicide capital there.

What is going on today that is forcing these unfortunate people to brutally kill themselves? I don't think life's trials and tribulations have gotten harder. Are these young adults so self indulgent that they cannot face few setbacks in life? Are the societal pressures of performance so high that they feel that they don't have any other solution? Or do they feel that their future is so bleak that they rather end their lives than continue this sorry existence? Or do we have an epidemic of mental health crisis that nobody is paying attention to?

I am parent of two grown children. My life experience makes me wonder if as a society we are raising over indulged kids and spoiling them beyond repair. I look around and talk to lot of parents and they are all of the same impression that we have created a young adult generation of over indulged whiners, who are irresponsible, very self protective but at the same time self destructive, lazy and not willing to help others freely without a second thought. I know most perform well at school and college level. But there is a doubt in my mind if these adults are fully rounded, mentally mature strong individuals who have the leadership skills to lead countries. Are we raising a bunch of regurgitating adults or a living, thinking, caring, sharing responsible, lovable adults? I am waiting to find the answer to that. All I know is that I belong to a sandwich generation in which I am the substance of the sandwich.

So how do we meet this crisis of maturity and responsibility lacking in the younger generation? Do we not provide enough emotional education? How do we help them understand that life is full of surprises and it has to be faced with nerves of steel during times of adversity and not take the easy route and think of ending their lives at the drop of the hat? At what point of their lives do we start teaching the facts of life?

As parents we have the responsibility to feed them, clothe them, educate them, protect them from harm. We have the additional responsibility of improving their mental and emotional maturity. Maybe we need to change our parenting methods and not create instant gratification brats but teach them that all good things come to people who are willing to work and wait for it. Things worthy in this world are not easily achievable but we have to pay our dues to deserve these blessings.

If this suicide rate continues the way it is right now we will have an ongoing mental health crisis. We will eventually have leadership crisis for the future. How do we stop this ending of lives so brutally? How do we make these young adults understand the lasting effects of their actions on the surviving families and friends? How do we make them understand their actions setting bad precedent for the younger generations? How do we make them realize that life is very valuable and can be used to do great things? I know I make it sound that ALL young adults are killing themselves, no but a single life lost this way is one too many. Any reader who has any ideas of changing the present societal problem please educate us. We all have a moral responsibility to help change this mental health crisis. Thanks