World Suicide Prevention Day: How Can Parents Help?

Students live a life which has too much going on the whole time. There is the academics, and the continuous pressure to excel at examinations. Following this would be peer pressure, and the expectations of their own friends. Students also have their own dreams and desires to fulfill. In all of this going on at the same time, there is a lot of friction that generates which results in stress.

Young minds, that are not ready to take on the world's tough ways might not be able to take the stress in a good way. Many students look for escape from such situations, and one of the most gruesome ways that students decide to trod on is Suicide.

One must really understand a child's situation and what goes on their headsbefore making statements. And most importantly, parents must make sure that they do not say such things, or express their thoughts in such a way that students are forced to take extreme steps.

World Suicide Prevention Day

World Suicide Prevention Day is a day of awareness that is observed on September 10 of every year. This day is kept to observe a global commitment and focus on the prevention of suicides.

The International Association for Suicide Prevention along with the World Health Organization and World Federation for Mental Health hosts the day. More than 800,000 people die each year because of suicide.

It is not uncommon to hear a news piece about a suicide because of failure in examination, or because of stress caused by bullying at schools or colleges among students.

It is very sad, but we must also know one thing that, as parents we must make sure that our children do not take such steps. So on this World Suicide Prevention Day, let us understand a bit more about suicide and try to prevent it in our society.

Among the young population, there can be many reasons to take the extreme step. One must accept that at a young age, students are under a lot of stress and don't know any better.

There are a few reasons that we usually see for suicides:

• Bullying
• Sexual Ornamentation
• Mental health Issues
• failure at examinations
• Cyber bullying and Abuse
• Sexual Abuse
• Domestic Abuse
• Neglect

You may say that not everyone goes through all of this. That might be true, but that's one reason we face so much problem to find out what's wrong. We are ignorant. We can't accept that any these is or was happening to our kids.

• These are the tendencies that you need to look for in your children, if you think they are suicidal:
• Withdrawing from social situations, family and peers
• Showing less interest in activities they were previously interested in
• Finding difficulty in focusing on schoolwork
• Changes in personality that are visible
• Changes in eating habits
• Changes in sleep pattern
• Drug or Alcohol abuse
• Loss of the ability to stand praise or rewards

Remember these are some of the signs. If you are concerned about you ward, or any one whom you think is suicidal, then you must approach a professional in medical and emergency services like a psychiatrist, counseller or a psychologist.

What Can you as Parents do to Prevent Suicide?

Understand, Accept and Be Serious

You need to know the gravity of the situation. Do not push this aside as one of their tantrums. Today you take a right move and you might be saving your child's life in future. Do not cast them and their problems away and accept the fact that children can feel extreme pressure and that they can break too.

Listen and Talk

One of the best things you can do is to develop a system where you and your child keep conversing with each other about whatever you have in your mind.

While doing so listen to them. They might say something, which might hint at something big. Remember to not be paranoid, at everything that they tell you and start accepting them.

How to Keep Out Children from Blue Whale Challenge?

Don't leave Them

If you think your ward is having thoughts about suicide, or if they have told you make sure you are in some way always around them. Keep their mind away, until professional help comes. Don't leave them alone.

Get Professional Help

What majority of parents do not do is take their children for professional help. They think it shows that there is something wrong with their kids. Well, that is false.

Professional help is always the better approach. Hiding it, and being concerned about what the society will think is not what one must be doing as a parent.

Be Respectful to Your Kids

Some parents become too authoritative with their parents, which makes it very difficult for the latter to express their views. As parents, you must be their support, their strong hold.

How to be your child's best friend?

If the parent becomes one of the reason for why the child is disturbed, it will become very difficult for the parent to help the child later. So always respect your kids and their thoughts and opinions.

Suicide is a serious issue that needs to be tackled today. We hope the parents take the initiative to help remove this problem from lives of children and the youth.

Here is an helpline that one call if they want help related to Suicide - 022 2754 6669

Tips for Parents to Deal with Bullying