Treating mental health: The way to a cure begins with conversation

The mental health of children and adolescents has suddenly become a cause of concern in India - with good reason

Zirak Marker’s days have been particularly hectic of late. The task at hand for the child and adolescent psychiatrist: calming panicky parents after cases of adolescent suicides in India were linked to the now infamous Blue Whale Challenge. For any of us who may have been living in a cave the past few months, the Challenge is a virtual “suicide game” where the player is given various tasks by an administrator over a 50-day period, ranging from isolation to self-harm to ultimately suicide. It has allegedly claimed over 100 lives worldwide.

Suicide can, of course, be seen as the ultimate