Blog@GraceJunction

Son,

I was concerned about the news that was reaching my ears and that is exactly why I am writing to you. In the past six months, our village has lost three of its cherished sons in the U.S. and all of them I believe could not live up to the mounting pressures of life and these uncertain days. I hope this letter will reach you in time, because I know you too are not finding it easier to keep your job, especially after the scandals that have broken out here. (more…)

“Dr. I am mad, I don’t have a brain”, were the first sentence I heard during my internship period in a clinical psychologist’s clinic. Next patient softly utters, “Nobody loves me.” Sitting in the room, I realize how many irrational thoughts encompass us: God is angry with me so I am depressed, or I am worthless or I am a failure, I don’t get anything right….

As I sit back and think about the patients and all that they spoke about during the session, I wonder what made them think the way they did. These patients didn’t have evidence to form basis for their thought.

Did they perceive things the way they wanted to? Yes to some extent. (more…)

“India tops the world in suicides among teenagers. Exam stress and depression are key reasons but other urban pressures are taking a heavy toll” says the cover note article of India Today magazine.

Here’s the sketchy view of the article:

• 16 suicides a day or 6000 a year is the rate at which teenagers snuff out their lives in India.
• 2006-07, 5875 students took their own life. ( NCRB)
• Every 90 minutes a teenage tries to commit suicide.
• But every 6 hours, one succeeds.
• 56% teen suicides in the country are reported between March and July, every year
• More adolescents die of suicide than AIDS, cancer, heart disease, obesity, birth defects and lung disease.   (more…)