The Health and Family Welfare Department views the number of suicide cases among children as a matter of great concern and is coming up with counter measures, such as increasing the number of counsellors and appointing them in educational institutions.
This follows the apparent suicide of a 10-year-old child who was denied use of a mobile phone last week.
“I am very disturbed. I don’t know what are the factors that influenced the young mind to take such a drastic step. I doubt if this is a standalone kind of incident,” Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh said today. “I am sure there are signs and symptoms of the child’s inability to cope with some of the norms of her life…but are the parents aware and willing to come out of their shells and speak to professionals?”
She said this while talking about the 10-year-old girl of Thangshalai village near Mawryngkneng in East Khasi Hills who hanged herself over the mobile phone.
“This is a very serious concern for the state and I am sure every parent is mulling over the incident. What happens in a community like us which is close knit and small in size, the gossip is what deters the people from coming and discussing their problem,” she said.
She further said, “I feel that as a community there has to be sensitisation to all concerns through all groups and platforms – church, community, institutions like hospitals.”
The minister added that she would like to see an increase in the number of counsellors first.
“The further away we keep the problem from attention and ignore it, the worse will be the manifestation,” she added.
