Since last few days everyday in the newspaper there has been a report about a teenager committing suicide .This has disturbed me very much .I can understand if a person burdened with debt (like the farmers in Vidarbha )do this .Being responsible for the family and unable to fulfil the role of the provider they are often forced to take this extreme step .
But suicide by youngsters is a different thing .They are still at the stage when they can share their sorrows with their parents and peers .If they are unable to do so somehow I think we the older generation has to face the facts .There is something seriously wrong with the upbringing .I think a number of reasons are responsible for this situation .
With double incomes and small families life for small kids is very easy .With most jobs in the private sector fathers have very little time to interact and most of the women also working the same is true of them .So what happens is that the 'quality time 'is spent in taking the kids to Malls ,hotels .trips and buying them things .There is no time to be spent just being themselves chatting .playing games and reading .the child gets whatever she asks for .The families being smaller there is no need to share too .The kids do not learn the basic skills of life like patience ,sharing controlling their desires and also coping with dislike ,anger and rejection .As they grow up and enter the real world they have no experience about negative emotions ,behaviour and feelings .So when they are faced with some negativity they tend to collapse .
With econmy growing it is foolish to imagine that Fathers will be able to pay more attention to kids or that mothers will give up their careers.. We must find solutions with in this framework .First of all treat the child as a sensible intelligent person .By all means provide her with all the toys you always wanted for your self but just think whether she is ready to realize their worth .If you give too much too soon the child loses on many emotions like patience ,expectation and the happiness of having a dream fulfilled .
Secondly okay there is just one child in the family but than let her play and share things with other children and cousins .Let the child learn to quarrel,sulk and make up with other children .t

there is no way these situations could be avoided so prepare the child for it .
Finally do not expect the child to be perfect .Discipline her ,punish her if needed (never ever hit a child physical punishment never taught anything ) but also provide her with a role model .Also never make your love and affection conditional .The child should have the confidence that there is one place where she will always be cherished but bad behaviour will not be tolerated .
I hope the young ones will never be desperate enough to commit suicide .