The society we live in today is silently being destroyed by a growing menace that is taking precious human lives and disturbing our social structure. This menace is suicide — a heartbreaking tragedy that is no longer limited to big cities but has now made its way deep into our beautiful valley of Kashmir as well. It is sad to see that in today’s so-called educated, progressive, and modern world, people are ending their lives because of minor problems, academic pressure, relationship issues, financial struggles, and the burden of social comparisons.
A recent heart-wrenching incident was enough to shake every sensitive heart. A young student preparing for the JEE exam took his own life just because of low marks. It makes us wonder — can a few numbers really be more important than a person’s life? Or is it our flawed social system and unrealistic expectations from parents that push young minds to a point where they feel helpless and alone?
Unfortunately, this was not the first and won’t be the last incident. Every day, countless such tragedies are happening around us, but we neither want to see them nor understand them. The biggest reason is that we are still forcing our own desires and unfulfilled dreams onto our children. If a child is interested in arts or sports, we insist on pushing them into the fields of medicine, engineering, or civil services. The result is that when they fail in this race, they start feeling worthless and meaningless.
In a region like Kashmir, where life was once peaceful, simple, and based on pure human connections, today — despite all modern facilities — peace of mind has disappeared. According to a recent report, over 1,700 cases of suicide were recorded in Jammu and Kashmir in 2022 alone. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) also reported that Jammu and Kashmir tops the list when it comes to the number of suicide attempts in the country. These figures clearly show how quickly our society is falling into the trap of mental health issues.
Financial problems are also playing a major role in this painful trend. When parents, beyond their capacity, take loans to send their children to coaching centers and keep reminding them of the household’s difficult conditions, it leaves a negative impact on innocent minds. Children begin to feel that if they fail, not only their parents’ hard work but also the money borrowed for them will be wasted. This fear pushes them to a point where life becomes too heavy to carry.
Social media and constant comparisons have also made this problem worse. Children comparing their homes, belongings, and lifestyle with others — and wishing to be like them — leaves them empty from within. It is the responsibility of parents and teachers to closely observe their children’s mental and emotional state, watch their conversations and behavior, and give them confidence at all times.
Another serious issue is that most children are not allowed to choose an educational or professional path based on their interests and abilities. Parents force them into specific fields according to their own wishes. When children are unable to perform in these fields, they suffer from mental stress and depression, which leads them to take extreme steps.
If we look at old Kashmir, life was simple, relationships were valued, and despite fewer resources, people lived with peace of heart. There was no unnecessary academic pressure or financial competition on children. But today, when everything is available, mental peace has vanished. It’s time we seriously think about where we are going wrong. Instead of putting unnecessary pressure on children, we should accept their natural talents and interests and let them move forward in their chosen fields. Every child cannot be a doctor or engineer, but they can shine in arts, literature, sports, design, or any other field of their choice.
To prevent tragedies like suicide, we urgently need collective awareness and practical steps. Parents, teachers, social organizations, and the government must raise awareness about mental health. Schools, colleges, and universities should have mental health education, counseling, and therapy centers. Parents should teach their children to accept both success and failure with courage. They should make them believe that life is a continuous test, where sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose — but one should never lose hope.
The increasing trend of drug addiction is also one of the reasons behind suicides. The government should take strict measures to stop drug abuse and set up more rehabilitation centers for addicts. On social media, positive content, success stories, and motivational talks should be promoted so that the youth can hear messages of hope instead of falling into despair.
In the end, as parents, teachers, social workers, and responsible citizens, we all must promise ourselves that we won’t let any child go down this dark path. We will allow children to choose careers based on their interests, take care of their mental and emotional well-being, and create an environment where failure is not the end of life — but a chance to learn and grow.
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