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“Responsive approach by parents necessary to prevent cases of suicide”

LUCKNOW: A seminar on “Suicides: Causes and Cure” here has made out a strong case for parents being more responsive to their children’s needs and sensitive towards the problems faced by them.

The seminar, organised by the State Home Department and the Director-General of Police, was held against the background of a spate of suicides by school children in Uttar Pradesh in recent days, with 20 such cases being reported in Lucknow alone this month so far.

“Comparison”, “rebuke” and “complaints” were mentioned by the speakers at the seminar as the probable causes that drove the children to suicide. Pressure to perform at the examinations with the parents putting additional mental burden on their wards to secure a high position was emphasised by the speakers as a related cause for the malaise.

Inaugurating the seminar, State Principal Secretary (Home) J. N. Chamber underlined the need for creating public awareness which could act as an antidote for the problem. Expressing his sympathies with the parents who lost their children, Mr. Chamber said a more responsive approach by the parents could help in finding a solution to the problem.

The Director-General of Police, Vikram Singh, said since children generally gave signals before taking the extreme step, a dialogue with them aimed at knowing their mental state could prevent the cases of suicide. He said sensitisation of the parents and others in the family was necessary and efforts should be made to solve the problems.

Stating that indiscipline in the social set-up was creating more problems, the UP Police chief favoured a responsive approach. He said legal steps should be explored for banning the Internet sites which outlined methods for committing suicide. ADG (Law and Order and Special Task Force) Brij Lal mentioned the increasing trend of suicides being committed by policemen. He said stress coupled with depression was the main cause that drove the cops to suicide. Stressing the importance of counselling, Mr. Lal said the police department would take the initiative to appoint counsellors soon.

Of the 20 suicide cases reported in Lucknow this month (till April 18), five were by students who had failed in their exams or spoilt their papers or were weak in studies.

In the five-year period from 2002 to 2007, as many as 20,798 persons in UP committed suicide, with family problems accounting for 3,959 cases, dowry disputes 1,896, diseases 1,455, love angle 856 and failure in examinations 648. The causes of suicide in 5,423 cases were unknown.

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“Responsive approach by parents necessary to prevent cases of suicide”

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