It is troubling to read of the report where the number of teenage boys who took their own lives last year hit a record high of 19 as reported in “Male teen suicides hit record high” (The New Paper; July 30)
Everyone, young and old needs to
value life and this message has to be ingrained so that lives are not lost when
wrong decisions made bring much pain to families and friends.
The factors and risks that
contribute to youth suicide could include academic pressure, alcohol consumption,
relationship issues, frequent change of residency, and poor family
patterns. Harassment is yet another
leading cause of teen suicide, along with abuse.
To tackle suicides head
on, frank and candid discussion must be on the cards. Those who are suicidal
need to release their pent-up emotions to people whom they can trust, show
empathy and who will not be judgmental.
They need motivation and a purpose in life. Suicide survivors who have turned
their lives around and become resilient in the process together with
professionals will be able to help youths to overcome adversities and treasure
life to the fullest.
Cognitive behavioral
therapy (CBT) can be effective to address suicides. CBT is a form of talk
therapy to get people who are suicidal to discuss their worries, anxieties and
unhappiness in a conducive environment.
To this end, I further
propose that the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) work closely
with government agencies like the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social
and Family Development to carry out these programmes on a regular basis,
reaching out to schools, tertiary institutions and religious
organisations.
RAYMOND
ANTHONY FERNANDO
No comments:
Post a Comment