Hyderabad: Speakers at a webinar on ‘Student Suicides and Societal Role’ conducted by the Hyderabad chapter of the Public Relations Society of India (PRSI) have called upon parents to save the precious lives of their college-going wards by paying attention to their mental health. They have underlined the need of spending some time with children and stopping comparing them with others.
“What is the purpose of having a child? Do you think that you gave birth to him or her to fulfil your unfulfilled desire?” asked Dr Vedmurthy Sarvotham, an international public relations and marketing expert with about 35 years of industry experience in the USA and India, in his opening remarks of the webinar last night. He attributed the series of suicides to the missing bond among family members. “Family PR is the need of the hour. If a family dine together by keeping aside their mobile phones, half of the problem is solved. Make your kid understand in every possible way that life is beautiful and you love him or her as it is,” he said adding that parents should understand the fast-changing dynamics of life. Dr Vedmurthy called upon parents to strive hard to inculcate a sense of humour and the necessity of bonding among their children. He strongly felt the need of making every couple undergo a well-designed course on parenting.
A senior Journalist-turned-Certified Family Counsellor K. Shobha came down on the corporate culture for ‘segregating’ students based on their marks in the classroom. “The corporate colleges insult and humiliate children based on the marks they score. Unable to bear this torture, economically poor and psychologically weak students are resorting to the extreme step,” she said. In a mad race to get attractive ranks, managements and teachers ignore students’ fervent pleas to promote them to the next best batch, she observed.
A practising Psychologist and founder of GeniusGym, Psy Visesh squarely blamed the insensible parents for the rising of suicides. “Parents are throwing children into the furnace of marks and ranks. They are failing to communicate to their kids that there is no such thing called a failure. It’s only feedback to work on,” he said.
Group Captain GJ Rao, Kargil War participant and author of a book on Suicide Prevention said that every citizen should lend shoulder to the depressed persons in the society. He called upon parents to sense the mood of their wards and give them space to express their feelings freely and frankly.
Dr Ajit Pathak, national president of the PRSI, asked civil society to give confidence to youngsters to learn from their mistakes and succeed in their lives. “Allow the flowers to bloom. We all should fill our surroundings with positivity and friendliness,” he said. Mr Y. Babji, the Secretary General of the PRSI, noted that more than the provisions in the law, the behaviour of parents, peers and teachers plays a role in stopping the spate of suicides.
Dr S Ramu, Chairman of the PRSI Hyderabad chapter, who planned and anchored the webinar, called upon parents to understand the likes and dislikes of kids. “We are losing precious human resources due to our foolishness. Parents, family members, friends and teachers should redefine the words ‘success’ and ‘failure’ in light of the success of failed students in making fortunes and the failure of successful students in making a good career path.”
He said that the PRSI took up the debate on suicides because 40 students are ending their lives every day due to education-related pressure. The PRSI Hyderabad chapter secretary Mr. K. Yadagiri, who asked governments to control the private education system to prevent suicides, proposed a vote of thanks.
Academics, policymakers, PR and Communication experts from five states nationwide participated in the two-hour webinar.
