Every year, 10 September is observed as World Suicide Prevention Day. It allows us to speak about suicide, mental health, emotional well-being, and most importantly, the value of human life.
In Kashmir, we increasingly hear about suicide incidents, and every such incident leaves behind a grieving family and a community searching for answers. It is a painful reality that deserves serious attention. At the same time, suicide is a complex issue and cannot be explained by one reason alone. Emotional distress, family problems, relationship difficulties, academic pressure, financial concerns, social expectations, and other personal circumstances can all contribute to a crisis. One factor that deserves more discussion today is the growing influence of social media, particularly on young people.
The Changing Impact of Social Media
Social media has become a part of everyday life. Through Snapchat, Instagram, reels, stories, photographs and status updates, we see what other people are doing almost every day. We see someone’s holiday, new clothes, achievements, celebrations, friendships, relationships, new car, new phone or successful career. But what we usually do not see are their worries, failures, family problems, financial difficulties or moments when they are struggling. This creates a difficult situation for some people. They begin comparing their real lives with the carefully selected lives they see online.
A young person who is already disappointed with life may look at these posts and think, “Everyone is happy except me.” Another may feel that others are moving ahead while they are being left behind. Over time, constant comparison can affect confidence and create feelings of loneliness, inadequacy and frustration. Social media is not itself the cause of suicide, and it would be wrong to reduce such a serious issue to one factor. However, excessive use, cyberbullying, online harassment, harmful content and constant comparison can add to emotional pressure, especially for someone who is already struggling. We need to teach our children that social media is a window into selected moments, not a complete picture of someone’s life.
Life Is Precious
Life is precious. It is a gift from the Creator, and it deserves to be protected and valued, especially when circumstances become difficult. There are moments when people feel disappointed, rejected, heartbroken or exhausted. They may feel that they have failed their families or themselves. In such moments, the present pain can appear permanent.
But it is not. A difficult period is only one part of life. Circumstances can change. A bad examination result can be followed by another opportunity. A career setback can lead to a different path. A broken relationship can eventually heal. Financial or family difficulties can also change with time and support. We should never allow one painful chapter to decide the entire story.
Changing the Conversation
Mental health is still surrounded by silence in many families and communities. A person may be suffering internally but remain quiet because they fear being judged or misunderstood. Some people are told to simply “be strong” or are reminded that others have bigger problems. Although such words may be well intentioned, they can make someone feel that their pain is not important.
Instead, we need to listen. Asking a simple question such as “Are you okay?” can be meaningful when it comes with genuine concern. We do not always need to have the perfect answer. Sometimes, giving someone the space to speak is itself an important form of support.
Talking about suicide responsibly does not encourage suicide. Responsible conversations can help people recognise distress, reduce stigma and encourage those who are struggling to seek appropriate help. When Failure Feels Like the End
For many young people, examination results carry enormous emotional pressure. A student who fails an examination or does not get the marks expected by their family may feel that their future has been destroyed. But one examination cannot define a person’s life. Marks measure performance in a particular examination. They do not measure someone’s character, abilities, potential or worth.
There are many ways to build a meaningful future. A person may try again, choose another course, learn a skill, change direction or discover an opportunity they had never considered. Parents and teachers have an important role here. Children need to know that they can come home after failure without being humiliated. Failure needs to be treated as something from which we can learn, not as a reason to lose hope.
When Relationships Break
Relationship problems can also cause intense emotional pain. Rejection, separation, betrayal or losing someone close can make a person feel as though life has lost its meaning. During heartbreak, it can be difficult to imagine a future without the person who has been lost. But emotions change, and healing takes time.
The end of a relationship is not the end of a person’s life. Family, friendship, education, work, personal goals and new experiences can gradually help someone rebuild. A person’s value cannot depend entirely on one relationship.
The Pressure of Expectations
Family and social expectations can motivate people, but they can also become overwhelming. Young people may feel pressure to achieve high marks, obtain a particular profession, earn well, marry at a certain age or maintain a particular social image. Parents usually want the best for their children, but sometimes expectations become so strong that children become afraid of disappointing them.
We need to create homes where children can say, “I am struggling,” without fearing humiliation. Parents should listen before judging and understand that their child’s dreams may not always be the same as their own. A child who does not meet an expectation is still a child deserving of love, respect and support.
Recognising Signs of Distress
People experiencing emotional distress may show changes in their behaviour. They may withdraw from family and friends, lose interest in things they once enjoyed, experience major changes in sleep or appetite, express hopelessness or repeatedly describe themselves as a burden.
These signs do not automatically mean that someone is suicidal. However, significant changes should not be ignored. Friends, parents, teachers and colleagues do not need to diagnose the person. They can simply notice the change, listen without judgment and encourage them to seek appropriate support. Sometimes, showing that we have noticed can make a person feel less alone.
Young People Need Safe Spaces
Young people today are growing up under pressures that previous generations did not experience in the same way. Along with education, employment and family expectations, they are constantly exposed to the online world. Schools and colleges should therefore provide more than academic education. Students need spaces where they can discuss stress, failure, bullying, relationships and uncertainty about the future.
Teachers can help create an atmosphere where asking for help is normal. Parents can do the same at home. A young person’s concern should not always be dismissed as “just a phase.” Listening seriously builds trust.
The Role of Families
Families can become an important source of strength during difficult periods. Support does not always mean solving someone’s problems. Sometimes it means sitting with them, listening patiently and helping them find the right support.
We should avoid statements that compare one person’s suffering with another’s. Pain is not a competition. Professional mental-health support should also be treated without shame. Speaking with a qualified mental-health professional, doctor or counsellor is not a sign of weakness. It is a responsible way of seeking help.
Using Social Media Responsibly
We cannot simply tell young people to leave social media. Digital platforms are now part of education, communication, and everyday life. Instead, we need to teach responsible use. Young people should understand that online images do not show the whole reality. They should be encouraged to take breaks when social media begins affecting their mood or confidence. It would be better for parents to discuss the topic of cyberbullying with their kids. The kids should understand that they can always block accounts that cause them harm or report the abuse to an adult they trust.
We also need responsibility when sharing suicide-related content. Sensational headlines, graphic descriptions and romanticising suicide can be harmful. Public discussion should focus on awareness, prevention, hope and pathways to help.
Asking for Help Is Strength
There should be no shame in asking for help. Someone experiencing serious emotional distress can speak with a qualified mental-health professional, doctor, counsellor, trusted family member, teacher, or another responsible person.
If someone appears to be in immediate danger of harming themselves, the situation should be taken seriously. Stay with them if it is safe to do so and seek urgent assistance through local emergency or healthcare services. Support should not end after one conversation. A simple phone call or message later can show that the person has not been forgotten.
Building a Supportive Community
Suicide prevention cannot be left to families alone. Teachers, healthcare professionals, community workers, religious leaders, social organisations and local institutions can all contribute to creating a culture where mental-health difficulties are discussed with understanding rather than shame.
In Kashmir, family and community relationships remain important parts of social life. These relationships can become powerful sources of support when they are based on compassion, privacy, and respect. We need communities where people do not feel embarrassed to say that they are struggling.
Let Us Teach Our Children That Failure Is Not Final
Children need to hear something simple but important: failure is a part of life. Not getting the expected marks does not mean the future is finished. Losing a relationship does not mean love is finished. Facing financial difficulties does not mean opportunities will never return.
Life can take unexpected turns.
Parents and teachers should help children develop resilience while also making sure they know that asking for help is acceptable. We should teach them that their worth is greater than their marks, appearance, income, relationships, or social-media presence.
Life Deserves Another Chance
When one path fails, another can be explored. When circumstances become difficult, they can change. When the future looks unclear, support can help a person see possibilities that are difficult to recognise during a crisis.
This is the message we need to repeat: pain deserves support, not silence. A person should never be reduced to their worst day, their biggest mistake, or their greatest disappointment.
A Collective Responsibility
World Suicide Prevention Day is not only about remembering those who have died. It is about asking what we can do to prevent another family from experiencing such loss.
Prevention begins with awareness, but awareness must lead to action.
We need families that listen, schools that support, healthcare services that are accessible, communities that show compassion, and social media users who understand the responsibility that comes with what they share. Most importantly, we need to change how we respond when someone says they are struggling. Listen before judging. Support before blaming. Guide before giving up on someone.
A difficult chapter does not define the entire book.
On 10 September, let us remind one another that life has value even when circumstances make that value difficult to see. Let us encourage people to reach out, seek appropriate help, and stay connected to those who care about them. Life is precious. Let us protect it, support one another, and make sure that no one feels they have to face their darkest moments completely alone.
The Author is a writer, social educator and researcher from Baramulla, holds a master’s in Gender Studies and a BED.
shoiabhat2018@gmail.com
