An emotionally turbulent age

The teen years are a turbulent time for emotions. And much like anything else, the teenage experience is different for each individual. Comparing each other’s teenage years would not lead to any accurate analogy when discussing particular experiences. And for that reason, being quick to judge the teenage couple who tragically committed suicide in Karachi would be unfair and harsh.

Yes, they were in what they thought was love. But suicide is a serious step. Imagine the hopelessness they must have felt; they must have been in so much pain that they thought only death could help relieve it. But why did they choose this option? What drove them to such an extent where they thought suicide was the only answer? We can only speculate.

No, it was not the fault of watching too many Indian movies, nor was it the fault of technology. The fact of the matter is that banning access to media and technology serves only to frustrate an already rebellious person, making them more desperate. The solution lies in accepting and talking about the problem openly. The solution lies in realising that having a girlfriend or a boyfriend is not the end of the world for your child. If you think this is indeed a terrible, immoral thing — talk to them about it. Explain to your teenager why you think this is not good for him or her. Talk to them about the psyche behind your reasons. Think, and give them the freedom to think.

Shutting someone up does not mean they will stop thinking. They may stop expressing themselves, but the ideas will remain in their minds. Eventually, all of this boils down to the fact that nobody explained to the teenagers why it was important to fight for the love they felt instead of committing suicide in its name. Schools should be establishing counseling centres to provide students with a safe space to discuss their problems. Because, let’s face it, not every teenager feels comfortable talking about his or her love life with a family member, for falling in love at this age is considered a taboo, even if it should not be.

We need to realise that falling in love at a young age is not a terrible thing. Otherwise, we will be seeing many more teenage suicides and attempted suicides in the future.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2015.