Mental stress and suicide rises among children in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: According to an intelligence study report, the number of suicides among children in Kerala has increased dramatically in the last two years.

The recent incident is that of a 14-year-old girl who committed suicide in Karamana after her mother banned her from using mobile phone. The number of child suicides in the state rose from 230 in 2019 to 345 in 2021. Unwillingness of controlling by family members, stress, and drug use push children to suicide.

The DGP has issued 11 directives to district police chiefs to reduce the suicide rate.

Last year, 27.8 per cent of children committed suicide due to mental stress. 13.9 percent of students commit suicide because they do not like their parents' control over their use of mobile and the Internet. Drug use is also a factor.

The breakdown of family relationships, learning disabilities and love failure causes children to commit suicide. The Department of Health and the Department of Education should take immediate action in educational institutions. Counseling should be started in schools, parents should be given technical knowledge, special programs should be launched to allay the fear of exams and steps should be taken to prevent children from being affected by family tensions.

As the psychological trauma and suicide increases in children Department of Education along with the help of SCERT provides counseling training to teachers.