Now, Mumbai psychiatrists are advising a similar measure to parents after a sharp rise in the number of love-struck underage teens seeking counselling.
When an Uttar Pradesh village recently barred single women from using cellphones lest they fall in love, many dubbed it a transgression of rights.
Now, city psychiatrists are advising a similar measure to parents after a sharp rise in the number of love-struck underage teens seeking counselling.
The situation has been exacerbated by exam stress, as the two can prove to be a deadly combination.
Take the case of Akansha Seth (name changed to protect identity), a 15-year-old girl who is being treated for depression after she found out that her boy likes someone else. But she needs more than simple therapy as her condition has become more acute due to approaching board exams. Dr Anjali Chabbria, a psychiatrist, said, “This month, I have counseled six kids appearing for their board exams with such a problem. They were depressed for various reasons related to relationships.”
According to medical professionals, heartbreaks due a romantic relationship going sour have become a cause for worry as 20% of children seeking counselling suffer from the problem. Dr Seema Hingoranny, a child psychologist, said, “These days, we get many such cases, especially during the exams. Heartbreaks coupled with exam fear is a lethal combo and children are not being able to cope with the pressure.”
It is not just teens or preteens that are plagued by heartbreaks, kids as young as seven years old are being brought in for counselling because of relationships. “The age bracket for dating is decreasing rapidly. Children these days use high-end phones, social networking sites etc. This kind of exposure has added to the problem,” said Dr Chabbria.
Dr Harish Shetty, senior psychiatric, Dr Hiranandani hospital, said, “Parents need to be careful with their children and respect their affection for the other sex, instead of taking them to task.”
Citing an example, Hingoranny said, “I have been treating a 14-year-old girl for acute depression after her school and parents learnt about her affair. Her parents blamed her and she was gossiped about in school. She couldn’t bear it and turned suicidal. She didn’t want to go to school and lost interest in studies.”
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