Reportage
A Bombay, l'obsession de la note et les rêves des parents poussent les jeunes au suicide
Article paru dans l'édition du 08.07.10
Le taux de suicide ne cesse de croître en Inde : de 6,3 ‰, en 1980, à 10,8 ‰ aujourd'hui. La désintégration de la famille traditionnelle laisse les enfants seuls face à une pression constante
e personnel de l'hôpital psychiatrique de Thane, en lointaine banlieue de Bombay, est en pleine répétition. Sur une estrade, un étudiant qui vient de se suicider supplie un infirmier, déguisé en dieu de la mort, de le ramener à la vie. En vain. « Tu t'es donné la mort. Ta réincarnation sera celle d'une plante », lui répond d'un ton sec la divinité hindoue, dont le maquillage dégouline sous la transpiration. Le dialogue est tiré d'une pièce de théâtre écrite par des psychiatres et jouée par des aides-soignants dans les écoles de la capitale financière de l'Inde, pour enrayer la recrudescence des suicides parmi les jeunes.
Depuis janvier, ceux qui se pendent dans leur chambre, ou s'empoisonnent, remplissent les pages « faits divers » des journaux indiens. Les statistiques du Bureau national de recensement des crimes leur ont même réservé une catégorie : « Les suicides par échec aux examens », à peine moins nombreux que ceux survenus à la suite de « difficultés financières ».
L'Inde est l'un des pays du monde les plus touchés par les suicides. Selon les derniers chiffres publiés, 125 000 Indiens se sont donné la mort en 2008. Et le taux de suicide augmente à un rythme soutenu : de 6,3 ‰ en 1980, à 10,8 ‰ aujourd'hui.
Autrefois, les soldats de l'armée marathe retournaient l'épée contre eux à la mort de leur chef. Aujourd'hui, les Indiens se suicident à la mort de leur acteur ou de leur homme politique préféré. Ce fut le cas d'une douzaine d'entre eux, lorsque le fameux acteur du Karnataka, Raj Kumar, avait été kidnappé par un brigand en 2000. Et ils sont nombreux à s'être donné la mort, cette année, au nom de l'indépendance du Telangana, dans le sud de l'Inde.
Mais les échecs aux examens seraient encore plus dévastateurs. « Dans les grandes métropoles, la famille traditionnelle indienne se désintègre. Les enfants n'habitent plus qu'avec leurs deux parents qui travaillent souvent jusque tard le soir. Ils se retrouvent seuls avec leurs angoisses, et une pression croissante pour réussir à l'école », explique la psychiatre Anjali Deshpande.
« L'obsession de la note est très indienne. Il n'y a qu'elle pour vous évaluer, et décider de votre vie. Toutes les activités extrascolaires comme le sport, qui permettent de créer du lien, sont négligées », dénonce Shreyas Rao, un avocat qui a souffert lui-même de dépression lorsqu'il était étudiant. Mais les enfants les plus stressés sont ceux dont les parents exercent le plus de pression. « La prévention des suicides doit se faire auprès des parents, autant que des adolescents », estime Anjali Deshpande.
La tâche n'est pas aisée dans un pays où le suicide est tabou. On dit qu'il briserait le cycle des réincarnations. Pis : la tentative de suicide est punie par une loi, héritée des colons britanniques. Ces derniers en avaient besoin pour justifier l'emprisonnement des grévistes de la faim qui luttaient pour l'indépendance du pays.
« Imaginez un peu : le pauvre qui n'arrive pas à se tuer, eh bien !, en Inde, on ne trouve rien de mieux que l'envoyer en prison pour un an », s'indigne Shreyas Rao. « Ceux qui sont en dépression vont souvent voir des gourous spirituels, qui s'avèrent être des escrocs, ou effectuent des stages de relaxation. L'aspect psychologique n'est pas pris en compte. Il n'y aucun psychologue dans les écoles », poursuit l'avocat.
Ceux qui sont au bord du suicide préfèrent donc en parler anonymement. Dans le bureau d'Aasra, un centre d'écoute basé à Bombay, un tableau affiche le nombre de vies sauvées : « 283 753 », soit le nombre d'appels reçus depuis la création de l'organisation non gouvernementale (ONG). Le centre, qui fonctionne vingt-quatre heures sur vingt-quatre, connaît une « saison haute » et une « saison basse ». Entre 80 et 100 appels par jour, six mois avant les examens et quelques jours après les résultats ; puis la moitié d'appels le reste du temps.
« Depuis le décollage économique de l'Inde, les parents veulent que les enfants concrétisent les rêves qu'ils n'ont jamais pu eux-mêmes réaliser. Cela se traduit par une forte pression », témoigne Johnson Thomas, directeur du centre. Les adolescents vont à l'école la journée, suivent des cours particuliers le soir. Leur vie extrascolaire et sociale est réduite à néant.
Quand les bénévoles de l'association décrochent leur téléphone, il leur faut souvent briser le silence de l'interlocuteur, non sans difficulté. Comme en témoigne l'une des 25 bénévoles : « Il est plus facile pour certains de se donner la mort plutôt que de parler du suicide. »
Julien Bouissou
Aasra Suicide Prevention.This blog is about getting people to talk about their innermost feelings and emotions in times of distress and despair.All discussions are about the issue of suicide, mental health and it's effect on society. Aasra Helpline for the depressed and suicidal. 91-22-27546669(24x7)
Friday, August 13, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Aasra workshop for suicide Prevention held at SIES college Sion
Workshop was held for TY students from accross all streams . The audienc constituted students and faculty and numbered around 70. The college also inaugurated their Mental helath cell and counselling unit titled Mannan.
on 12th August 2010 a between 9.30 am and 1.00 pm.
It was conducted by johnson assisted by Nita.
PPT presentation and discussion on topics given by the audience and as per their expectations.
This talk was tiltled by us as a "Suicide Prevention Programme". organized by Career And Counselling Committee of SIES college. The audience comprised of degree college students, of all stream i.e. Arts, Science, Commerce, BMM,BMS etc.The workshop cum talk incorporated Factors (in General) that propels a person to commit suicide, life skills that will help students to be better able to deal with life stressors in the wake of adversities instead of resorting to a drastic step like Suicide.
The talk was also an oppurtunity to identify the suicidal tendencies that a person may be showing up i.e. an Awareness programme to the lay population. It also inolved experiential training via role play of -
how does a counsellor go about counseling the client who harbours suicidal thoughts, what types of calls we receive, what is the extent of motivation of the caller for follow-up sessions, what is the vulnerable age group etc... can all be tapped.
contact person was
Suchitra Roy Chowdhury
Lecturer of Psychology,
S.I.E.S. College of Arts, Science & Commerce,
Sion (W).
on 12th August 2010 a between 9.30 am and 1.00 pm.
It was conducted by johnson assisted by Nita.
PPT presentation and discussion on topics given by the audience and as per their expectations.
This talk was tiltled by us as a "Suicide Prevention Programme". organized by Career And Counselling Committee of SIES college. The audience comprised of degree college students, of all stream i.e. Arts, Science, Commerce, BMM,BMS etc.The workshop cum talk incorporated Factors (in General) that propels a person to commit suicide, life skills that will help students to be better able to deal with life stressors in the wake of adversities instead of resorting to a drastic step like Suicide.
The talk was also an oppurtunity to identify the suicidal tendencies that a person may be showing up i.e. an Awareness programme to the lay population. It also inolved experiential training via role play of -
how does a counsellor go about counseling the client who harbours suicidal thoughts, what types of calls we receive, what is the extent of motivation of the caller for follow-up sessions, what is the vulnerable age group etc... can all be tapped.
contact person was
Suchitra Roy Chowdhury
Lecturer of Psychology,
S.I.E.S. College of Arts, Science & Commerce,
Sion (W).
Friday, August 6, 2010
Juvenile Depression, Dr.Kurien S.Thomas
Juvenile Depression
July 06, 2010 02:41 AM EDT (Updated: July 06, 2010 01:14 PM EDT)
These days we can see the level of competition is too high that it becomes very hard for the children to handle it in the right way. Do not forget their studies and extra curriculum that needs to go the parallel way. Parents too are demanding when it comes to child’s escalated success. We often see parents comparing their children with other’s children, which itself it the root cause of depression. Reality shows, publicity, fame and other kind of competitions coming in our sphere children are soft target for depression. Children don’t play well nor do they get sleep well. They are over loaded with all kind of stuff. The childhood phase in them is been wiped out at a very early stage in life. Unlike adults, children don’t exhibit sadness or express like adults do, so it becomes difficult to recognize whether a child is depressed or not. They hold back their feelings and that in turn leads to stress and depression.
Here are some symptoms that could help you identify juvenile depression.
• Being very irritable or angry or start to respond negatively on anything and
every thing.
• Becoming unenergetic and not responding to things where it could be fun for
them.
• Feeling of not wanted or detected. (This happens usually when compared.)
• Not being able to concentrate and as a result fairing miserably at studies.
• Growth considered improper ie. Gaining and losing weight at a fast pace.
• Obesity in children.
• Crying without reason or anything and everything making them cry.
• Frequent illness
• Feeling of “I can’t” in life.
• Mood swings. (Suicidal thoughts: take them to a qualified psychotherapist
right away)
Tips to overcome juvenile depression.
• Talk to your child and make him/her understand that everyone faces
depression.
• Allow the child to express.(If he/she wants to cry; let him/her cry but be
with them to support their feelings with encouraging words and action).
• Make the child face the truth. We often try to cover their painful/hurtful
feelings. (esp. getting the child a prize from the shop and gifting when
failing to get a prize in the competition).
• Develop confidence of the child in you. This helps them to open-up
everything to you.
• Do not over empathize with the child, rather empathize to lead the child
back to recovery.
• Make the child understand various other options to excel and be better.
• Schedule time for the child to eat, play and sleep. Do not encourage the
child to be obese.Encourage them to have friends and you be friend of your
child's friends. Children open up fully to children alone.
• Develop a hobby of child’s interest.
• Seek opinions from them for decisions at home. This is helpful in implanting
a feeling of being wanted and/or getting them mature to situations.
In spite of trying out all these if the child do not respond take him/her to a qualified psychotherapist who could assist your effort in leading the child out of situational depression.
Every child is unique and let him/her be what he/she is and excel in their field of their interest. Bring the smile back on the child’s face.
Dr. Kurien S. Thomas
Executive Director
Effective Living Inc.
www.effectivelivingonline.com
For appointments and details contact us at effectiveliving@gmail.com or call +91-9969105310 / 91-9987223811 .
Dr.Kurien S Thomas, is a columnist,writer, orator, corporate trainer, psychotherapist, yoga therapist & counselor; founder & executive director of Effective Living Inc, a global counseling& stress management clinic, which has an unique approach to psychotherapy, counseling, yoga therapy & wellness therapy with 100% confidentiality. He also conducts seminars and workshops for corporate, schools, colleges and various organisations. His personal / online counselling on family issues, teenagers and parenting has been a boon to many. .
He can be contacted through this website or visit him at www.effectivelivingonline.com. Alternatively write to him at effectiveliving@gmail.com.
Read more: Juvenile Depression | Gather
July 06, 2010 02:41 AM EDT (Updated: July 06, 2010 01:14 PM EDT)
These days we can see the level of competition is too high that it becomes very hard for the children to handle it in the right way. Do not forget their studies and extra curriculum that needs to go the parallel way. Parents too are demanding when it comes to child’s escalated success. We often see parents comparing their children with other’s children, which itself it the root cause of depression. Reality shows, publicity, fame and other kind of competitions coming in our sphere children are soft target for depression. Children don’t play well nor do they get sleep well. They are over loaded with all kind of stuff. The childhood phase in them is been wiped out at a very early stage in life. Unlike adults, children don’t exhibit sadness or express like adults do, so it becomes difficult to recognize whether a child is depressed or not. They hold back their feelings and that in turn leads to stress and depression.
Here are some symptoms that could help you identify juvenile depression.
• Being very irritable or angry or start to respond negatively on anything and
every thing.
• Becoming unenergetic and not responding to things where it could be fun for
them.
• Feeling of not wanted or detected. (This happens usually when compared.)
• Not being able to concentrate and as a result fairing miserably at studies.
• Growth considered improper ie. Gaining and losing weight at a fast pace.
• Obesity in children.
• Crying without reason or anything and everything making them cry.
• Frequent illness
• Feeling of “I can’t” in life.
• Mood swings. (Suicidal thoughts: take them to a qualified psychotherapist
right away)
Tips to overcome juvenile depression.
• Talk to your child and make him/her understand that everyone faces
depression.
• Allow the child to express.(If he/she wants to cry; let him/her cry but be
with them to support their feelings with encouraging words and action).
• Make the child face the truth. We often try to cover their painful/hurtful
feelings. (esp. getting the child a prize from the shop and gifting when
failing to get a prize in the competition).
• Develop confidence of the child in you. This helps them to open-up
everything to you.
• Do not over empathize with the child, rather empathize to lead the child
back to recovery.
• Make the child understand various other options to excel and be better.
• Schedule time for the child to eat, play and sleep. Do not encourage the
child to be obese.Encourage them to have friends and you be friend of your
child's friends. Children open up fully to children alone.
• Develop a hobby of child’s interest.
• Seek opinions from them for decisions at home. This is helpful in implanting
a feeling of being wanted and/or getting them mature to situations.
In spite of trying out all these if the child do not respond take him/her to a qualified psychotherapist who could assist your effort in leading the child out of situational depression.
Every child is unique and let him/her be what he/she is and excel in their field of their interest. Bring the smile back on the child’s face.
Dr. Kurien S. Thomas
Executive Director
Effective Living Inc.
www.effectivelivingonline.com
For appointments and details contact us at effectiveliving@gmail.com or call +91-9969105310 / 91-9987223811 .
Dr.Kurien S Thomas, is a columnist,writer, orator, corporate trainer, psychotherapist, yoga therapist & counselor; founder & executive director of Effective Living Inc, a global counseling& stress management clinic, which has an unique approach to psychotherapy, counseling, yoga therapy & wellness therapy with 100% confidentiality. He also conducts seminars and workshops for corporate, schools, colleges and various organisations. His personal / online counselling on family issues, teenagers and parenting has been a boon to many. .
He can be contacted through this website or visit him at www.effectivelivingonline.com. Alternatively write to him at effectiveliving@gmail.com.
Read more: Juvenile Depression | Gather
Depression at Work, Dr Kurien S. Thomas
Depression at work by Dr. Kurien S. Thomas
August 05, 2010 11:19 AM EDT
Employers are not aware about the cost that depression could load on their balance sheet as it goes hidden or rather unnoticed. The reality is that depression cost the employers billions of Indian Rupees annually. The productivity or performance of a skilled professional is laid almost at rest due to depression they face in their life. What could be the real reason for the depression has to be ascertained. Ongoing work stress and pressure can cause depression. In the fast paced world the competitiveness to delegate and get the task done timely makes a real difference in the corporate world. Work without stress is inevitable these days, but the attitude at which the stress is taken matters for the individual to view it as an opportunity or challenge to prove his or her own abilities. If it is not seen it in this manner, stress would lead the individual to depression. At times certain challenges laid for an employee may be much more than he or she could handle. At this juncture he or she feels like a trap without a means to take corrective steps. Managers should be able and also attentive to the symptoms his or her subordinates face and on finding certain symptoms which could be tagged as depression must refer their subordinates to a psychotherapist and or counsellor and tackle problem areas at work very efficiently.
Some of the symptoms that managers could identify depression in their subordinates are :-
* Lack of concentration
* Emotional outburst
* Mood swings
* Prefer to work alone or no team spirit
* Decreased productivity
* Anxiety
* Sleepiness
* Irritability
* Late arrival at work and quick to leave from work
* Taking leaves on the rise
Adequate attention to these symptoms must be laid on as the above symptoms can prove the manager to miss his or her deadlines, make mistakes in the task he or she heads, increased time spent in arguing with subordinates, etc. which could lead him or her into negative stress.
As a manager you could call the employee into confidence to discuss to help him or her by:-
* Creating an opportunity to discuss with 100% confidentiality
* Suggest him or her to visit a psychotherapist / counsellor
* Change his or her work or reporting mode
* Change work routine
* Identify his or her skill and try to create opportunity for him or her to utilize those skills effectively for productivity
* Give fresh challenges that could interest him or her
* Delegate task if the work load is heavy
It is very important to identify depression as it would not only affect him or her but the superiors and subordinates, friends, relatives, immediate family members and society at large. If depression is left untreated it could lead employees to attempt dangerous mistakes which could cost companies billions of Indian Rupees or even commit suicide. Identifying and treating depression at the right time can prevent great losses or decreased profits from reflecting in the balance sheet.
Dr.Kurien S. Thomas is a writer, columnist, orator, corporate trainer, psychotherapist, yoga therapist & counsellor; Founder & Executive Director of Effective Living Inc., a global counselling, k yoga & stress management clinic, which has a unique approach to psychotherapy, counselling, yoga therapy & wellness therapy. He also conducts seminars and workshops for corporate, schools, colleges and various organisations.
His personal / online counselling on family issues, teenagers, parenting, health issues, obesity, slimming, alcoholism and other issues has been a boon to many with 100 % confidentiality assured.
For more details and appointments write to him at effectiveliving@gmail.com or call at: +91-0-9969105310 or +91-0-9987223811. Website: www.effectivelivingonline.com
August 05, 2010 11:19 AM EDT
Employers are not aware about the cost that depression could load on their balance sheet as it goes hidden or rather unnoticed. The reality is that depression cost the employers billions of Indian Rupees annually. The productivity or performance of a skilled professional is laid almost at rest due to depression they face in their life. What could be the real reason for the depression has to be ascertained. Ongoing work stress and pressure can cause depression. In the fast paced world the competitiveness to delegate and get the task done timely makes a real difference in the corporate world. Work without stress is inevitable these days, but the attitude at which the stress is taken matters for the individual to view it as an opportunity or challenge to prove his or her own abilities. If it is not seen it in this manner, stress would lead the individual to depression. At times certain challenges laid for an employee may be much more than he or she could handle. At this juncture he or she feels like a trap without a means to take corrective steps. Managers should be able and also attentive to the symptoms his or her subordinates face and on finding certain symptoms which could be tagged as depression must refer their subordinates to a psychotherapist and or counsellor and tackle problem areas at work very efficiently.
Some of the symptoms that managers could identify depression in their subordinates are :-
* Lack of concentration
* Emotional outburst
* Mood swings
* Prefer to work alone or no team spirit
* Decreased productivity
* Anxiety
* Sleepiness
* Irritability
* Late arrival at work and quick to leave from work
* Taking leaves on the rise
Adequate attention to these symptoms must be laid on as the above symptoms can prove the manager to miss his or her deadlines, make mistakes in the task he or she heads, increased time spent in arguing with subordinates, etc. which could lead him or her into negative stress.
As a manager you could call the employee into confidence to discuss to help him or her by:-
* Creating an opportunity to discuss with 100% confidentiality
* Suggest him or her to visit a psychotherapist / counsellor
* Change his or her work or reporting mode
* Change work routine
* Identify his or her skill and try to create opportunity for him or her to utilize those skills effectively for productivity
* Give fresh challenges that could interest him or her
* Delegate task if the work load is heavy
It is very important to identify depression as it would not only affect him or her but the superiors and subordinates, friends, relatives, immediate family members and society at large. If depression is left untreated it could lead employees to attempt dangerous mistakes which could cost companies billions of Indian Rupees or even commit suicide. Identifying and treating depression at the right time can prevent great losses or decreased profits from reflecting in the balance sheet.
Dr.Kurien S. Thomas is a writer, columnist, orator, corporate trainer, psychotherapist, yoga therapist & counsellor; Founder & Executive Director of Effective Living Inc., a global counselling, k yoga & stress management clinic, which has a unique approach to psychotherapy, counselling, yoga therapy & wellness therapy. He also conducts seminars and workshops for corporate, schools, colleges and various organisations.
His personal / online counselling on family issues, teenagers, parenting, health issues, obesity, slimming, alcoholism and other issues has been a boon to many with 100 % confidentiality assured.
For more details and appointments write to him at effectiveliving@gmail.com or call at: +91-0-9969105310 or +91-0-9987223811. Website: www.effectivelivingonline.com
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