Kolkata Mental Health Experts Highlight Multifaceted Crisis Among Adolescents
Mental health professionals across Kolkata have observed a significant and concerning increase in gadget addiction among teenagers, but they emphasize that this is just one piece of a complex puzzle affecting young minds. They assert that the mental well-being of adolescents is influenced by numerous other critical factors, and a holistic approach is essential for effective intervention.
The Screen Addiction Phenomenon and Its Limitations
Sanjay Garg, a consultant in mental health and behavioural sciences at Fortis Hospital Anandapur, confirmed the rising trend of screen and gadget addiction among children, noting its detrimental impact on mental health. "These games are meticulously designed to be addictive, potentially leading children to retreat into a virtual world, gradually isolating themselves from real-world social interactions," Garg explained. However, he cautioned against viewing this as a sole trigger for extreme actions. "While abruptly withdrawing children from such games is not advisable, this factor alone is unlikely to directly precipitate a drastic step like suicide."
Post-Pandemic Surge and Underlying Family Dynamics
Psychiatrist Sabyasachi Mitra of CK Birla Hospitals pointed out that addiction to gaming and social media has become rampant among children following the Covid-19 pandemic, with many parents actively seeking help. He warned against forceful withdrawal, which children might perceive as punishment, leading to anger and resentment. Mitra stressed that a child's mental health is shaped by a confluence of factors. "If adolescents experience trauma during their formative years, particularly within the family environment or between parents, it can embed deep psychological distress that they struggle to express," he said. "This creates a pressure-cooker-like situation, leaving them feeling helpless and potentially driving them to consider drastic measures, such as suicide, as an escape."
The Critical Role of Parenting and Early Intervention
Psychotherapist Minu Budhia, founder of Carring Minds International, identified several key vulnerabilities: emotional distress, loneliness, academic or social pressure, anxiety, depression, an inability to cope with failure, and a critical lack of emotional support at home. "Parents play an indispensable role by creating an environment of emotional safety, practicing non-judgmental listening, and vigilantly observing early behavioural changes," Budhia advised. "Allowing children the space to fail without fear of punishment and proactively seeking professional help when needed can be truly life-saving interventions."
Learning from Tragedy and the Importance of Vigilance
Experts referenced the apparent suicide pact by three sisters in Ghaziabad as a stark, though potentially isolated, incident. They underscored the imperative for parents to remain exceptionally alert, given the documented rise in behavioural changes, self-harm, and suicidal tendencies among adolescents. They noted that if the Ghaziabad sisters had been absent from school for an extended period, it should have been a major red flag for their parents, highlighting how oversight in a dysfunctional family setting can severely compromise a child's mental health.
Most parents, the experts acknowledged, are becoming increasingly aware of the mental health challenges their children face and are willing to seek professional assistance when home-based resolutions prove insufficient. The consensus is clear: good parenting, consistent supervision, and the provision of robust emotional and social support are foundational. However, when these measures are not enough, turning to professional help is not just recommended—it is crucial for safeguarding the future of vulnerable youth.
