Tag: Depression

Teen Depression | Are You Feeling Suicidal?

Adolescent suicides are preventable. What parents and educators should know about the reasons, the warning signs and the preventive steps that can protect their teens?

Last week, one of my friends shared an unexpected incident with me about her twelve-year-old niece. She used to maintain a diary in which she takes notes about her daily activities and reflections. One day, her mother was shocked to read some of the entries from her diary where she mentioned that “…I think my life is empty as nobody, even my mother, understands me…I think I should kill myself.” This journal entry of a twelve-year-old gives us a clear look at what kind of stress our teenagers are going through especially when they are confining to their homes, socially distant from their friends and relatives. However, the much-needed question is, are parents aware of how to handle such kind of circumstances? Or what steps parents should take to mitigate the risk? Continue reading “Teen Depression | Are You Feeling Suicidal?”

The Silent Killer: Why Is Depression Silently Taking Away Our Teens and Youth?

The Silent Killer: Why Is Depression Silently Taking Away Our Teens and Youth?

Recently, I heard the devastating news about the suicide of well-known Bollywood TV and film actor Sushant Singh Rajput. His sudden death has brought to light the widespread yet under-addressed problem – Depression, that even a number of teens and youths are living within our present society. Depression is often called a silent killer. Its symptoms tend to be misunderstood or not visible physically, and by the time the necessary measures have been undertaken, it may already be too late. Moodiness, irritability and social withdrawal are often accompanying adolescence. As a result, parents would not know whether these are something to worry about or a regular part of their kids adapting to the world. In the year 2018, two of my previous students attempted suicide; luckily, they both survived. The underlying reasons behind these disturbing behaviours are more or less same, i.e. depression, peer or academic pressure etc. Continue reading “The Silent Killer: Why Is Depression Silently Taking Away Our Teens and Youth?”

Why Self-Affirmation is Important to Support Struggling Adults and Students

Why Self-Affirmation is Important to Support Struggling Adults and Students
By Ahmad Amirali

Yesterday, I had a small conversation with one of my colleagues, discussing her future career goals she is looking out nowadays. As discussion precedes, I observe that she is too insecure and unmotivated for her future goals. She kept criticising her skills, education, things that turned around in her life and the way she is living her life right now. I confess that I’ve been observing her since months that something bothering her, even she looks normal to people, but her daily routine keeps on saying that she might be depressed or something. The similar kind of behaviours can also be found in students as well. Throughout the term, students come and discuss their anxiety and the way they feel when they encounter some sort of failures in their daily lives (Previous article: Why Should We Celebrate Our Failures?). The question is why such thoughts sometimes overcome our all the abilities and our achievements of our lives? Why do we start forgetting all our struggles whenever we encounter any drawback in our lives? Why suddenly we start feeling to end this life due to any failure? Continue reading “Why Self-Affirmation is Important to Support Struggling Adults and Students”

Why Suicidal Thoughts Are Appeared to Be Common Among Teens?

Why Suicidal Thoughts Are Appeared to Be Common Among Teens?
By Ahmad Amirali

Almost every year, I observe adolescents who struggled with trauma and anxiety due to social and academic pressures. The most common among all is the suicidal thoughts that are now becoming more common nowadays among teens. Last year alone, two of my previous students attempted suicide; luckily, they both survived. The underlying reasons behind these disturbing behaviours are more or less same, i.e. anxiety, peer or academic pressure etc. Family involvement and social support might help affected teens to recover from their depression, but the road to recovery can be rocky, and therefore, most of the time, adolescents find it hard to recover from their traumatic past. The question is Why the teen’s suicidal rate astonishingly increased since the past decade? Continue reading “Why Suicidal Thoughts Are Appeared to Be Common Among Teens?”

Why Students Sometimes Feel Empty and Lost?

Why Students Sometimes Feel Empty and Lost?
By Ahmad Amirali

Yesterday, while reviewing my camp’s students remarks for me, I found a note of one of my camp students who once shared her depressive thoughts, which she usually encounters, especially in school. She describes that due to these depressive and empty thoughts, she even hardly concentrates on her studies. Moreover, It also affects her social life as she afraid of losing her friends will not understand her situation. She is not the only example; each year, many students share such experiences and stories with me.  The depression and anxiety are the two most uprising problems which teenagers are facing nowadays. (Previous article: Teen Anxiety | Reasons and Remedies). The reasons varied according to the age and the context in which teen is living. However, apart of contextual challenges, why students sometimes feel empty and lost even when they surrounded with so many resources, family and friends? Continue reading “Why Students Sometimes Feel Empty and Lost?”