Letters: Take things lightly

It is disturbing to read newspaper reports about the spurt in the number of suicides among students, the most recent case being that of a final-year student of IIT Madras.

Often, students are unable to find the right person to whom they can open up and who, in turn, can give them correct and timely advice. Teachers, parents and classmates should be trained to look out for warning signs such as depression, lack of enthusiasm, withdrawal from friends, falling grades and low self-esteem among students. Most importantly, they should devote time to listen to students when they talk about their fears and anxieties.

Parents should spot what their children have a flair for and encourage them to pursue that instead of pushing them towards things they do not like or fulfil the unrealised dreams of their parents.

Yoga and personality development courses should be made compulsory in educational institutions, with emphasis on building self-esteem. Humour could be made part of the curriculum, as this could help students relax and let them take things a little lightly. In this context, Mahatma Gandhi's words come to mind: "If I had no sense of humour, I would long ago have committed suicide."

T S Karthik, Chennai

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