Bhubaneswar: To address the critical issue of suicide among adolescents, the Society for Nature, Education, and Health (SNEH) recently organised a community awareness programme called ‘Suicide is Not the Answer’ in the Salia Sahi slum of the City bringing together experts from various fields. The event, aimed to create awareness among parents, and presented them with some possible techniques to deal with the problem.
The programme was held at SNEH’s Conflict Resolution Counseling and Training Centre in Mayfair Nagar, with some 130 attendees, including parents from nine habitations, peace committee leaders, Youth Cell Volunteers, and media members. Sudarshan Chhotray, journalist and social activist, Jharana Swain, principal counselor of Bhubaneswar Family Court and Jayajyoti Panda, psychologist and state educational consultant at UNICEF served as guest speakers, sensitizing the participants on this sensitive issue.
The event commenced with a condolence prayer for Anasuya, a 13-year-old girl from Mangla Nagar in Salia Sahi, who tragically took her own life, an incident that had deeply affected the community, prompting SNEH to initiate sensitization programmes aimed at preventing such unfortunate events. Chhotray, in his address, highlighted the prevalence of suicides in underdeveloped nations. He emphasised that the age group between 15 to 21 witnesses a higher incidence of suicide, citing factors like excessive expectations, consumerism, mobile addiction, lack of parental attention, the nuclear family system, feelings of isolation, and societal prejudices as major contributors to this issue. “Numerous factors such as exam pressure and mobile game addiction can contribute to suicidal tendencies among adolescents.
To address these challenges, preventive measures should be taken like practicing meditation, spending time in nature, gardening, watching comedy or motivational films, and sharing problems with friends, family, and experts,” said Jayajyoti Panda, a psychologist from UNICEF, who also delved into the various stressors in adolescents’ lives, including family, educational, and societal pressures.
ARINDAM GANGULY, OP