Many instances have included women — a gender that is already marginalised in our conservative society
LAHORE: In a distressing news story that was published in this paper, a mother had thrown her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter into the river leaving the toddler to drown in the cold chilly water in Karachi. According to the mother, she had planned to kill her daughter first and then commit suicide because she was suffering from depression after her husband had mistreated her for years.
While it is unsettling to realise that a mother could take such a brutal step towards her own child, we need to understand where this move comes from. Years of ignoring the presence of mental illnesses have led to many such stories of parents killing their children and then committing suicide. Many instances have included women — a gender that is already marginalised in our conservative society.
The only way to be able to curb such acts is by launching mental health awareness campaigns and establishing a portal where people can call and consult mental health counsellors. On the other hand, women should be given awareness about their rights and ways to break out of an abusive relationship. Together these two measures will help those who need help.
Sohail Askari
Published in The Express Tribune, February 8th, 2019.
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