Parents alert on childs suicidal tendencies

'adolescents between the age group of 15 to 25 are the most vulnerable to depression and anxiety-related disorders and mood fluctuations , which may trigger suicidal tendencies,'  says a consultant neurologist at city hospital said here on sunday. speaking at an interactive session organised by the ramakrishna mission ashram. with parents and students she said that early cues of suicidal tendency from the children should identified and counseled   by an expert. 'nearly 70 per cent of those who attempt suicide are known to suffer from depression,' she said. advising parents and friends to watch out for symptoms such as introversion, poor academic performance, anxiety, vulnerability and impulsiveness in adolescents, the leading doctor said early intervention could be of much help. 'a typical sign of a depressed adolescent is shutting oneself up inside a room and refusing to interact with others,' she said.  'parents should ensure their children are equipped with life skills, which include coping with failures,' she said. 'i know of parents who do not want to expose their children to any kind of suffering, which is also not alright,' she said. domestic violence, familial break-ups, abuse and death of loved ones could lead to such behaviour among adolescents, she said. 'it is important to make depressed adolescents understand that dreaming alone does not help very much and it is necessary to start taking action to achieve success,' she said. such adolescents should take to meditation as this was one sure way of developing a positive and healthy attitude towards life. the doctor recommended three ‘rs’ for getting over depression: rest and reflection, resilience and right thinking. she debunked a few myths related to suicide. 'people who contemplate suicide are neither cowards nor courageous. they are simply depressed and are actually screaming for emotional support,' she said.