7
Why the emergence of teen suicides? What can we do as a community?
Two teen suicides were reported in the month of August. Why are our youth resorting to such violent acts? A teacher from the Changjiji community linked it to the influence of films. Another youth said he thought it was because of Korean films and Bollywood which tended to be very melodramatic.
What can we, as a community, do about this?
Its possible that films, music, magazines and books can influence young people in an adverse way. However, one has see youth resorting to violence from a larger perspective. As the world changes and with so much information available on internet, there is an inevitable clash of cultures of old versus the new. Does the youth connect with the existing values and culture? Is there a sense of alienation developing among them? Can we channelize their frustration to something more creative? Banning anything is not an answer. Society has to accept the change with a lot more empathy and compassion.
Was this answer helpful?
LikeDislikeLiving GNH in practice is the way, which takes care of psychological well-being (through medication, prayers and contemplation). Children and youth must be given opportunity to contemplate and soul search why are they born on earth, what are they suppose to do, where would they find their happiness and should not be forced to do something that they do not like or enjoy doing. Counselling becomes an urgent matter in schools through value education – talking to youth what is life and what is expected of it – there should be more parental education. Children and youth must be equipped with mind that takes life as life should.
Was this answer helpful?
LikeDislikeI think the influence of film, bollyhood or korean film may not be the sole cause for children resorting to suicide. These are the ultimate extremes which we assume to be the cause. If these really are, then we are affected by the development in the humankind.
For me, the youths today are very sensitive to surroundings environments. Sensitive because they have choices for life. Their minds are sensitized because they can really think of other means themselves. This is development of a bright generation. But in the course of such development, guidance and proper direction is very crucial. When development, which could happen with many mixed sentiments, takes places, holistic visionary (ies) who could be parents, teachers or anyone influential could play the best part wherein they could listen, suggest, share and related such problems to a better solution. When such care is missed, children feel they are neglected. They feel neglection is more or less like a death for them at such age. Hence, they do whatever, and not only suicide.
Was this answer helpful?
LikeDislikeDear friends and family of Bhutan,
we all should do something now and stop this from being more issue. i am also one individual that is really touched by this issues an i would like to volunteer my services as an individual and also as a organisation ” Happy Green Cooperative”
…community support is one big way forward and i would be happy to continue participating in it. i have already joined the Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy and gave a talk in Changjiji school some weeks ago.
…pols kindly let me know if there is anything that i can again be A PART AND CONTRIBUTE IN ANY WAYS…
my contact is
yagnasx@gmail.com
0097517723844
Was this answer helpful?
LikeDislikeThanks Sangay. It is heartening for us to see the emergence of the civil society that we need in a new democracy, or more specifically in the rapidly expanding urban towns where we all tend to look to the system, the authority and the government to solve all our problems and tend to all our needs. You show, indeed, that much needed spirit of volunteerism. Kadingche-la.
So if media is not the main influence, and the youth are getting to become more sensitive to a lack of care at home, what else can we do? How do we channelise youth’s energies into something more positive? Create more play space, more discussion space? Encourage role models to interact more with the youth?
Was this answer helpful?
LikeDislikeI believe such acts of desperation like suicides or other forms of violence are basically extreme acts of expressing one’s inner mental or emotional conflict, especially pertaining to the more emotionally vulnerable group of ‘youths’. Further more unguided exposure to Media in some cases (like movies and NEWS) show that such extreme acts like suicides and self harm can actually leave an impact and even “works” at times. This is why I would agree that the a continued dialogue or discussion with the youth would help. I would also like to add that if a proper (and a brief) education on media could be incorporated in schools it would help the cause too.
Was this answer helpful?
LikeDislikeThe main cause of the suicidal is social pressure.
In this hugely demanding contemporary live,the gap between the intensity of social pressure and quality of guidance and services given to youths is falling apart.
Youths have the tendency to compare evrthing they own. Due to the exposure to various mode of mass media and competitive society, their success to achieve aims and desires becomes further minimal and challenging. So challenging, that some of them even feels worth giving up thier life to skip such circumstances.
Thus, we need to counter the ferocious, uncontrollable and influential social pressures by delivering relevant guidance and creating ambient atmosphere for innocent pressure cookers.
Buddhism can play a huge role in bringing immediate(before our eyes) merits both for the saviors and victims. It is not always necessary to follow the traditional way of practising Buddhism, always talking about merits and karmas after death for I prioritize present over life after death as it is the present from KUENCHO SUEM.
Was this answer helpful?
LikeDislike