The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Early intervention helps fight suicidal tendencies

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Wednesday, Jun 03, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Early intervention helps fight suicidal tendencies

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: “Adolescents in the 15 to 25 age group are the most vulnerable to depression and anxiety-related disorders, which may trigger suicidal tendencies,” Prithika Chary, senior consultant neurologist at Apollo Hospitals said here on Sunday. She was speaking to parents and students at an interactive session organised by the Ramakrishna Mission Ashram.

“Up to 70 per cent of those who attempt suicide are known to suffer from depression,” she said. Advising parents and friends to watch out for symptoms such as introversion, poor academic performance, anxiety, vulnerability and impulsiveness in adolescents, Dr.Chary said early intervention could be of much help. “A typical sign of a depressed adolescent is shutting oneself up inside a room and refusing to interact with others,” she said. Dr.Chary said, “Parents should ensure their children are equipped with life skills, which include coping with failures,” she said. “I know of parents who do not want to expose their children to any kind of suffering, which is also not alright,” she said. Domestic violence, familial break-ups, abuse and death of loved ones could lead to such behaviour among adolescents, she said. “It is important to make depressed adolescents understand that dreaming alone does not help very much and it is necessary to start taking action to achieve success,” she said. Such adolescents should take to meditation as this was one sure way of developing a positive and healthy attitude towards life. Dr.Chary recommended three ‘Rs’ for getting over depression: rest and reflection, resilience and right thinking. She debunked a few myths related to suicide. “People who contemplate suicide are neither cowards nor courageous. They are simply depressed and are actually screaming for emotional support,” she said.

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