It is hard to train and develop a good footballer in this social media era, said a coach of a semi-finalist country in the FIFA world cup 2018, sometimes back. The same is true of teachers, in developing the students, in this social media era. A Coimbatore-based engineering student, committed suicide due to a large numbers arrears he had, is one among the four such cases of students, trying to commit suicide in the span of a month, in Tamil Nadu, based on the news in the dailies. It is a great challenge to teachers, who handle such students, to overcome such issues.
I too have had my share of related challenges. I was a resident tutor during the initial period of my career, at Dindigul. There was one Mr. N, admitted in the first year of engineering, from the southern part of Tamil Nadu. A few days later, I was getting ready to resume my college academic schedule, when a few boys complained to me about Mr.N, saying that he threw away his plate, as he had not got dosas in the first and second rounds, due to the supplier’s carelessness. Consequently, I asked him to write an apology letter, which he did. I chanced a glance at it and was shocked by what he had written: “Sir, I am really sorry for my mischievous act in the hostel mess this morning. I assure you that I will never repeat this mistake again. If I do, I will immediately commit suicide....” I was shocked. Nonetheless, I tried to pacify him and invited his parents to discuss the matter. I got to know from them that he had wanted to study in a college at Tirunelveli, with his friends, which was the reason for his outbursts and threats of suicide. Without further ado, we transferred him to the college where he wanted to study, to save his life.
Frequent occurrences
Attempts at suicide are common, and are on the rise. The reasons for this vary from love, academic failures and pressures, inferiority complex, family problems, and so on. One college student, at Tiruchi, for instance, committed suicide for not knowing English, as he had done his schooling in Tamil medium.
The mental strength to withstand failure and pressure, is rather low, among those children, and it is up to teachers, parents and professionals to educate youngsters about how to handle them and steer them away from suicide as an option. For this, it is necessary to gain their trust.
Family is the first school where a child starts acquiring knowledge on important aspects of life, and families should have a conducive environment for youngsters to discuss any inhibitons and problems they may face Next comes education institutions, which, apart from imparting knowlege, must also train youngsters to be mentally strong. It is essential for schools to have counsellors to specifically address such issues, instead of teachers doubling up as counsellors. Governments and other regulating agencies should introduce mechanisms to prevent such fatalities. Once such mechanism could be counselling cells in educational institutions with trained counsellors available at all times to take care of students in need. A compulsory course can be designed suitably and offered in school and college curriculum, to develop sound mental health in students.
Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104. Some other helplines:
Chennai - Sneha Suicide Prevention Centre 044-24640050.
Mumbai - Vandrevala Foundation 1800 2333 330
Delhi - Sanjivni Society for Mental Health: 011-4076 9002
The writer is professor, computer science and engineering at St. Joseph’s College of Engineering and Technology, Thanjvur
