What we observe around us is a cause for serious concern and at the same time a troubling trend, which is particularly pronounced among Kashmir’s youth as they deal with the effects of years of political, economic, and mental instability. It is important to realise that the surge in suicide cases in Kashmir is not just attributable to trauma and violence; rather, several other factors, including lack of economic opportunities, have all played a role in creating the situation we are in today. The pressures of life sometimes become too much for Kashmir’s youth as they struggle to handle their everyday responsibilities.
They have problems, but who can they confide in? They have needs, but is nobody there to meet them? They feel caged and left to fend for themselves; how do we expect them to be sane and act logically? Despite their aptitude and skill, they struggle to support themselves, feed their families, and look after those who depend on them. We as a society had that responsibility, but did we come up to the expectations? Although the government played a significant role in the hard conditions, have we seen the authorities at least make an effort to understand the reasons behind these cases? When we learn that a youngster killed himself because of issues he could never express or needs he could never ask for, we prefer to turn a blind eye, cover our ears, or act deaf.
We cannot deny that a significant contributor to the surge in suicide cases is society’s failure to address the concerns and issues of our youth. We have failed to give them the encouragement, direction, and tools they require to deal with their emotional, mental, and physical challenges. Our society urgently needs to change, and the government might take a minute to consider how it can contribute to that change. To solve this issue, we must move quickly, give our young people’s mental health a top priority, and make sure they have access to the services and help they need. Also, we need to foster an atmosphere in which people are free to express themselves, and more crucially, we need to concentrate on giving them employment options. We need a collaborative, logical, and conscientious approach!
