Psychologists warn parents to heed dangers of childhood suicide
Psychologists warn parents to heed dangers of childhood suicide
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
With three students -- one barely six years old -- committing
suicide within the last five weeks, psychologists have called on
parents and teachers to pay more attention to their children.
The nation was shocked on April 7 when Bunyamin, 17, a high
school student in Adiwerna district in Tegal regency hung
himself, apparently disturbed by his parents inability to pay his
school fees.
A week later, Eko Haryanto, 15, attempted to hang himself,
reportedly on account of embarrassment at not having paid his
monthly tuition fees for nine months.
The most recent case of childhood suicide occurred on
Saturday, when Renaldi Sembiring, 5, hung himself after his
parents refused to allow him to go to a friend's birthday party.
Psychologist Mulia Muis from the Jakarta Psychologists'
Association said that childhood suicide was not a new phenomena.
However, perhaps as parents were busier these days, they were
becoming increasingly unaware of their children's needs.
Mulia suspected that the Renaldi case was due to accumulated
feelings of rejection by the child.
"The child had already been rejected over things
that he thought were important, but appeared trivial to his
parents," she told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
She added that it was not peer pressure that made Renaldi
commit suicide, but more the pressure in the home, which he then
compared with that experienced by his peers.
She said that it was possible that many children who committed
suicide were suffering from psychological disorders like
depression, which their parents could well be unaware of.
"Perhaps there might have been something wrong or unusual with
the child, but the parents thought it was no big deal," Mulia
said.
Psychologist Irwanto from Atmajaya University said that
children who committed suicide often experienced a high level of
frustration, but unfortunately they lived in unconducive
environments.
"The parents are unaware, or too busy, and teachers are
unaware as well. The concept of a caring environment is under
threat nowadays," Irwanto told the Post.
Affluent families could afford to pay nannies to look after
their children, but poor families could not. As a result,
children were frequently left alone at home.
"Depressed kids then take a shortcut, perhaps influenced by
movies, and commit suicide," Irwanto said.
It was difficult to deal with this complicated problem,
Irwanto said, as there were various factors involved.
"Especially in small towns and villages where poverty
prevails, and both parents and teachers lack knowledge. The home
cannot provide a place for the release of children's frustration,
and school is not necessarily any better," he explained.
As school was what children were most familiar with, Irwanto
said that teachers needed to be more attentive to their students.
"Watch out if a student become quieter or does not interact
well. Also, as children are more open with their peers, they need
to be empowered so that they can look out for one another," he
said.
Meanwhile, Mulia urged parents to show wisdom and have more
empathy for their children.
"Don't underestimate their wishes, and don't use parents'
standards all the time. They need to socialize and interact with
their peers. Try to see it from their point of view," she said.