Trigger Warning: Teen Suicide
“I couldn’t help my friend when he committed suicide,” said Rahul, 15, a student of Calcutta Rescue, his voice heavy with regret. Rahul lost his best friend, who wasn’t a student of Calcutta Rescue, and struggles with the guilt of not being able to save him. “Even after asking him countless times, he never told me how bad things were,” Rahul shared. His friend lived in a toxic home environment, often confiding in Rahul about the abuse he faced. “But before it happened, he grew quiet. He’d still smile, so I had no idea he was in such a dark place.”
Suchandra, the mental health counsellor at Calcutta Rescue, explained, “He may have been suffering from depression due to the toxic environment at home and thought self-harm and ending his life were the only solutions. It is not unusual for young people to exhibit undesirable behaviours, such as lashing out, isolating, or making risky decisions. Growing up is hard; increased responsibilities are stressful, and emotions are often difficult to manage through puberty.”
At Calcutta Rescue, we prioritize mental health counselling with regular sessions on anxiety, depression, self-harm, teenage issues, body image, and bullying prevention. Our students are becoming more aware of the issues they face and are encouraged to speak openly about their struggles. “Boys are often told to stay silent and not show weakness. But through our workshops at Calcutta Rescue, we’ve learned that it’s okay to express emotions. Self-harm often stems from repressed feelings,” Rahul added. “Now I wish he was also a student of CR. That way, he would at least have the teachers to talk to.”
Counsellor Suchandra said, “The pressures of responsibilities, emotions, and relationships can be particularly intense among teenagers and young adults. Their brains are still developing, and it is very common for young people to act unreasonably or engage in risky behaviour. Most of this is quite normal as young people develop and begin to mature.”
As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month in May, it’s crucial to understand the importance of mental health counselling for everyone. Mental health support can save lives. In the words of Suchandra: “When young people learn to cope with intense emotions or calm themselves in difficult situations, they are likely to feel good about themselves. Managing life’s small worries so they don’t become big problems and doing things they are anxious about instead of avoiding uncomfortable situations are all good for their mental wellbeing.”
