ONCE, being a child was simple. You went to school, played with friends and studied. The pressure to do well was present, but not at the cost of fun and a life beyond school books.
But times have changed. A recent study has found that not only adolescents, but kids as young as 11 may try to harm themselves as a result of stress- related depression.
The study was carried out among 30 children in Kerala, many of whom had consumed pesticides, kerosene, drugs, face cream and even gone to the extent of trying to hang themselves.
Of these, 90 per cent were in some kind of stress.
The study, published in the journal Indian Pediatrics, is based on interviews of children and their parents conducted at a child guidance clinic attached to the Calicut Medical College.
“High parental expectations contributed to school- related stress in the children,” the scientists who carried out the study said.
Twelve of them were suffering from school- related stress, while 18 were dealing with conflict with parents or siblings, fighting/ alcoholic parents or grieving the death of parents.
Among the 21 boys and nine girls the scientists spoke to, the majority were between 11 and 13 years of age. The youngest, a six year- old, had been told by a relative she would die if she ate face cream. Fifteen of them had wanted to kill themselves by consuming the harmful substances.
One child died in the attempt.
As only a small percentage of such children seek professional help, the study may only be the tip of the iceberg, the study warns.
Deliberate self– harm is an indicator of underlying psychosocial problems, including an increased risk of suicidal behavior in later life, the scientists say. Moodiness, academic decline and social withdrawal are the early signs of depression.
Kids may try to harm themselves by banging their head against a wall or poking a pencil or compass into the body.
“ Self- harm among children is becoming a public health problem,” Dr Anjali Varma, attached with the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salem, Tamil Nadu and an assistant professor at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, said.
“Pediatricians, parents and school teachers need to identify the early signs of depression and anxiety in young kids,” she added.
Social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter also contribute to kids choosing selfharm as a way of dealing with anxiety and depression.
“ Bullying and adverse comments on these sites on looks, relationships and school performance can damage the youngsters’ self- esteem, provoking them to take the extreme step,” psychiatrist Dr Jitendra Nagpal said.
“The trend is on the rise. I get three to four children a month on the wrong side of social networking,” he added.
TOO MUCH FOR A YOUNG MIND
The study showed kids as young as 11 harm themselves and commit suicide because of stress- related depression
The kids took pesticides, kerosene, drugs, face cream & even tried to hang themselves
Reasons for stress included school work, conflict with parents or siblings and fighting/ alcoholic parents
Moodiness, academic decline & social withdrawal are the signs of depression to watch out for Stressed & suicidal
Source Mail Today, 16th May 2011
