Youth and Suicide: Search better solutions

Trend of getting more within short spare of time, makes us more selfish and optimistic. Since we all youths keep such admire and set this as a goal. We young people also have a kind of compulsion from everywhere, meantime which is fact as well. Youngsters are pressurized to set goal soon, find handsome job, success with less effort, strong bank balance, marriage, giving birth to babies, late marriage, divorce and many more. Nobody else listens to us and doesn’t let us to set our wishes ourselves.

This is the world where youths are allowed to follow their ancestors but are not respected to put out our own decisions openly. If we are found moving as our desires then we are pulled, bullied or even kept aside, which is hidden truth of our so called educated society. This period of life for us is very tough, where we must address new challenges like building our identity, developing self-esteem, creating new relationships, making link with great personalities, being super example in surrounding etc.

As I remember, we were taught by families, community or even institutions that “simple living, high thinking” but gradually when we start to grow we are surrounded or even nobbled with high expectations, sometimes too high from relatives and peers, show off living etc. We are even forced and bullied by our own parents saying their relatives’ son/daughter has progressed a lot in the same age but what about you? This question mark (?) is also the main cause of falling into depression. Such environments increase our stress, sense of losing control, feeling of insecurity, degree of helplessness, and feeling of loneliness from inside and which gradually convert into low spirits among youth.

Suicide rate among youth adults have increased at an alarming pace, which need to address soon since the future of any nation depends on its young generations. Depression, mental disorders, abuse, violence, sexual harassment, family violence, unsuccessful life, pressurizing environment are the major factors of suicide within youth, which keep stress in mind and slowly change into depression and finally end with suicide.

Until and unless our society eradicate behaviors like bullying, pulling, keeping pressure, the rate of suicide cases won’t decrease. However, most suicidal individuals give warning signs like, talking about harming oneself, like to stay alone, extreme distress, emotional pain, saying goodbye time and again, self-destructive behavior (consuming too much alcohol, drugs), seeking out lethal means (guns, knives, pills), hopelessness, helplessness etc. somehow, we can even hear talking about dying, ‘I am fade up’, ‘I wish I hadn’t born’, ‘there’s no way out’ etc.

Let’s not ignore, if we hear someone talking like this. If someone is trying to share something to us then please let’s listen to them. Let them know that we care and encourage them to unload their feelings but don’t argue with them in their feelings. Let them know that how much important they are for us.

Moreover, if we are the victim then to address and cope with these all challenges, one needs to make list of trusted members, who can advise, support, care and even give time for us. Even I have made list of them, who are always ready to advocate, counsel and support me. Till date, I met with measureless mankind, I chat and listen to them but never follow their guidance because they have no value in my soul. ‘Too many cooks spoil the broth’, as per this quote I only value the words, inspiration, or even bitter words of them whom I have listed. So that I save myself from this panic situation.

(Columnist Bhattarai is LLB Student.)