World Suicide Prevention Day is annually observed by people all around the world on September 10th. This day brings home the fact that within scary numbers of deaths by suicide are real lives, families, and communities considerably and deeply affected by this issue. WSPD is an opportunity for reflection, awareness and most importantly, to prevent suicide and support those in need.

Global Context of Suicide

According to the WHO, every year, almost 700,000 people die by suicide, and many more attempt it. Suicide is a significant public health problem and has remained one of the leading causes of death among people aged 15-29 years worldwide. These figures represent only the tip of an iceberg. For each death by suicide, hundreds of people suffer severe psychological, emotional, and social impacts. Such extreme measures have consequences in that families and societies are battling to come to terms with grief, confusion, and possibly feelings of guilt that may follow, many times at a loss as to how to go further.

The Theme: Creating Hope Through Action

The theme for World Suicide Prevention Day, “Creating Hope Through Action,” will be immediately linked to a message that suicide is preventable, and each one of us can play a part in that process. Whether through giving a listening ear, reaching out to someone in distress, or raising awareness of mental health issues, any action has the potential to save a life. It is also a call for building resilient support systems and access to mental health resources wherever people are.

Recognising the Warning Signs

Early identification of warning signs and timely intervention are among the best ways of preventing suicide. These include warning signs in the form of emotional, verbal, or behavioural warnings:

a. Sudden loss of interest in social activities or any relationship

b. Increased use of substances or self-harm behaviour

c. The feeling or talking about hopelessness or burdening others

d. Extreme mood swings or changes in behaviour

e. Talking or writing about death or suicide

It also needs to be pointed out that these signs could even differ from one individual to another. This is where recognition and taking proactive steps by reaching out and offering support can make a difference.

Breaking the Stigma Associated with Mental Health

One of the significant reasons taken into consideration in suicide prevention is the stigma surrounding mental health. Suicidal ideation and mental illness are more likely to connote feelings of shame or hesitation to seek help among people because of their judgment by society. This stigma deters candid communications and results in individuals failing to pursue the care they desperately need.

These will go a long way in ensuring that the stigma is reduced because mental health is talked about with an open mind and without any judgment. Public campaigns, media engagement, and educational programs light up avenues that normalise seeking mental health and encourage people in struggle to seek support.

The Role of Communities

Communities are at the heart of efforts to prevent suicide. Communities develop a culture in which openness, support, and compassion increase to try to minimise suicidal thoughts and feelings of isolation and give reasons to live. Communities can raise awareness of problems associated with mental health issues, enhance resilience, and ensure that resources like hotlines, counselling services, and support groups are readily accessible.

They can also be provided through local organisations, schools, workplaces, and faith-based groups by creating safe spaces where people are heard and valued. Such settings offer an open avenue for them to discuss their problems and access the help they need.

What Can You Do?

Though broad-scale prevention methods are critical, all of us can play our part in preventing suicide. Following are a few ways one can help create a big difference:

1. Listen: If anyone is distressed, empathise with them. Sometimes, your presence can help people come out of their suicidal thoughts.

2. Seek help: If you know someone who shows suicide warning signs, get them professional help: a mental health professional, helpline – whatever may be the need.

3. Raise awareness: Participate in WSPD events, share mental health resources via social media, or simply bring up discussions of mental well-being amongst your networks.

4. Support survivors: If people have lost their loved ones to suicide, give them space to grieve and heal. Sometimes, your mere presence counts, even in complete silence.

Moving On

World Suicide Prevention Day reminds us that suicide is not inevitable. Most suicides can be prevented through raising awareness, reducing stigma, and taking collective action. Whether offering a kind word or advocating for systemic change, every action counts.

By creating hope through action, we can take further steps toward supporting those in need and also foster a society that prioritises mental health, hope and allows no man to feel alone in their struggle.

With the recent advancement in medical technology, we hope to find a cure for all illnesses be it because of bacteria or viruses. But in the meantime, while we search for a cure for even the common cold there are many sicknesses spreading around us that we must remain aware of. Being aware is as good as having the Doraemon’s magic pocket, you may not always need all the gadgets or in your case the knowledge of particular illnesses, but if you ever need it you can always look back to that knowledge and feel prepared. One such illness that has been on the rise recently is Mpox or Monkey Pox, let’s find out more about it.

Mpox: What is it?

Mpox is a virus which is a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus. A virus is different from bacteria as bacteria can be cured easily with antibiotics and the illness that a bacteria causes is called a bacterial infection. But when it comes to viruses they are hard to treat and the illness that they cause is called viral infection. As they are hard to treat, they are allowed to run their course and fight with your body’s immune system until they lose. Though there are some antiviral medications available for certain viral infections like HIV, for most viral infections there is no medication as such. Your common cold is considered a viral infection hence usually the best cure for a common cold is to rest up and let your body fight it. On the other hand, tetanus is a bacteria that you can fight with, with a tetanus shot.

The particular genus or family the Mpox or monkeypox virus belongs to was also responsible in the past for the spread of cowpox and smallpox. The reason it is called monkeypox is because it was first discovered in 1958 in monkeys. But unlike the name suggests this virus can attack both humans and animals and hence we need to be more careful. Some of its symptoms such as headache, fever, exhaustion, and muscle aches can be confused with other viral infections. But one of the most noticeable symptoms of this disease is the appearance of rashes. The rashes first look like flat lesions or like a patch of red on your skin, that develops into a blister and then a scab. This is the most important marker of the disease.

Mpox: How do I protect myself from it?

Mpox can only be transmitted via direct contact with the infected person’s or animal’s rash or their bodily fluids like saliva, blood, etc. It can also be transmitted via air through respiratory droplets which are released when you cough, sneeze, talk or breathe hard, hence taking important precautions is of utmost importance. You can do the following to protect yourself from Mpox:

• Maintain Good Hygiene:

Always ensure to wash your hands before and after you eat with soap and water to ensure that all the germs from your hands are dead. Whenever you visit very crowded places remember to come back and change out of your clothes and clean the exposed parts of your body with soap and water to prevent contamination. Whenever you are visiting crowded public places like gyms be sure to wipe the surface of gym equipment with wet tissue before using them.

• Love Animals But Don’t Catch Mpox:

We all love to give our furry buddies all the love in the world but remember that loving them is fine but do it with caution. Mpox virus is mostly spread through rodents (such as rats, hamsters, squirrels, guinea pigs, etc.) and primates (such as chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, orangutans, etc.) in areas where the disease is already on the rise like Africa, hence be careful when coming into contact with animals in those regions.

• Take Your Vaccine Shot:

Remember to take your due vaccine shots such as JYNNEOS or ACAM2000 to ensure that you are fully prepared and protected from Mpox. Needles hurt but also save lives so close your eyes and imagine you are in your happy place and it will make the entire vaccination process a little easier.

• Keep Yourself Away From People Who Have Caught Mpox:

Sometimes the best way you can take care of someone is by staying away. Hence, let the doctors who are much more experienced handle the situation while you keep yourself healthy so that when the time comes you can help out as much as you can. Do not share beddings, clothing, towels or personal items with someone who has Mpox. And disinfect surfaces and objects that may have been contaminated with antiseptic lotions like Dettol.

• Improve Your Immunity:

Given that viral infections fight with their immunity it’s important to build a strong immune system. By eating a balanced diet, getting a good 7-8 hours of sleep and being active through various activities like exercise, dance, etc. you can ensure that your immune strength is at its best all the time. 

Stay safe so that you can ensure somebody else’s safety tomorrow.  

Crippled, disabled, differently abled, specially-abled, etc. are a few of the many terms that society uses to describe those who deviate from the normal they are used to seeing. It’s an assumption that is made that if one becomes a little different as compared to how a society is used to perceive a “whole” individual then they truly can’t live a fulfilling and happy life. It is this assumption that people who society had categorised as different are forcing it to rethink with their consistent march to victory in the Paris Paralympics 2024. You guessed it right, we are talking about none other than the Indian team’s performance at the Paris Paralympics 2024 who are making billions across India to reframe their thoughts and perception towards those who may not look like an exact replica of what they conventionally consider “healthy”. 

Medals Tally Paris Paralympics 2024 (Shooting, Track, High Jump)

The Indian para-athletes have consistently proved that they don’t need to fit themselves into the tiny tick boxes that society has created that may deem them unfit. They did so by bringing honour and glory to the nation one medal at a time. Starting this streak of pride, Avani Lekhara won India’s first gold medal in women’s 10m air rifle standing SH1. Mona Agarwal also won the bronze in the same event. 

Preethi Pal carried this streak forward by winning India’s first-ever medal in track. She did so with a bronze in both the women’s 100m T35 (athletics) and the women’s 200m T35 (athletics). Manish Narwal brought a silver home with his win at the men’s 10m air pistol SH1 (shooting). And so did Rubina Francis with a bronze women’s 10m air pistol SH1 (shooting). Nishad Kumar with his silver in men’s high jump T47 (athletics) and Yogesh Kathuniya with his bronze in men’s discus throw F56 (athletics) showed a repeat of their impeccable performance at the Tokyo Games 2020. 

Medals Tally Paris Paralympics 2024 (Badminton, Track, High Jump, Archery)

Nitesh Kumar bagged the second gold medal for India in men’s singles SL3 (badminton). Thulasimathi Murugesan kept the spirits of Indians high with her silver in women’s singles SU5 (badminton). Manisha Ramadass and Nithya Sre Sivan added to India’s overall medal tally by winning bronze each in women’s singles SU5 (badminton) and women’s singles SH6 (badminton) respectively. With Suhas Yathiraj’s silver in men’s singles SL4 (badminton) India bagged a total of five medals in the badminton events alone.

Sharad Kumar with a silver in men’s high jump T63 (athletics) managed to bag his second medal at the Paralympics. Mariyappan Thangavelu bagged the bronze in the same event. Becoming the youngest Indian track medalist, Deepthi Jeevanji won a bronze in the women’s 400m T20 (athletics). Rakesh Kumar along with Sheetal Devi managed to bag the bronze medal in the mixed team compound open (athletics). This win made Sheetal Devi the youngest Indian medalist to be awarded a Paralympic medal in compound archery.

Medals Tally Paris Paralympics 2024 (Javelin Throw, Shot Put, Archery, Club Throw)

Sumit Antil one of the flag bearers of the Indian flag during the opening ceremony, carried the flag with pride as he won a gold in javelin throw F64 (athletics). It made it the third gold for India in the Paralympics. His win was followed up by a silver and bronze medal. They were bagged by Ajeet Singh and Sundar Singh Gurjar respectively in men’s javelin throw F46 (athletics).

Bringing home the fifth silver medal Sachin Khilari bagged the silver medal in men’s shot put F46 (athletics). It was further followed up by Pranav Soorma who bagged the silver in men’s club throw 51 (athletics). Harvinder Singh kept the spirit of millions of Indians alive by bagging India’s first Paralympic gold in men’s individual recurve open (archery). Dharambir Nain brought the current tally of gold medals for India to five. He did so by winning a gold medal in the men’s club throw 51 (athletics). And just yesterday, i.e., 05/09/2024, India’s medal tally went up to 25. Yesterday, judoka Kapil Parmar brought home the bronze medal in the men’s 60kg J1 event at the Paris Paralympics 2024. 

The Reason Behind the Massive Success

The immense passion and effort put in by each athlete surely played a role in their success. But apart from that certain other factors also had a role to play. According to the Business Standard, it’s the help from the government which includes an increment in the funding for the Paris Paralympics, backing up athletes with government schemes and sending in more coaches and personnel support to the Paralympics helped boost the morale and kept the athletes going. The inclusion of para-badminton last year also gave more space for athletes to showcase their talents. The recovery centre established in the Games village especially for the Indian athletes also played a crucial role.

Proving the notion held against people who live with disabilities wrong with each medal we just want to say that we are immensely proud of the performance of all our athletes at the Paris Paralympics 2024. And we wish them all the best for the remaining days of the Paralympics.

This Throwback Thursday, we remember the life and legacy of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a giant in Indian history whose contributions to education and philosophy have seared an indelible mark into the nation’s psyche. Celebrated as Teacher’s Day on 5th September every year, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s birthday indicates how paramount his impact has been on the Indian educational system and one of the shapers of modern Hindu identity.

The Early Years and Academic Excellence

Born on September 5, 1888, in a small village in Tamil Nadu, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s early life was precocious, marked primarily by a zest for knowledge that would guide him throughout his life. He went to Madras Presidency College, where he rapidly proved himself as a bright student. Here, he initiated the study of philosophy, which would eventually become his lifelong passion.

He was called upon to serve at the Department of Philosophy in the Madras Presidency College in 1909, marking the beginning of his outstanding academic career. His scholarship on the subject breathed heavily upon the concepts of Advaita Vedanta, the school of Indian philosophy that emphasises the idea of non-dualism. His reinterpretation for contemporary times made Advaita defend Hinduism against Western criticism and develop a modern Hindu identity that would stand shoulder to shoulder with Western philosophical traditions.

A Scholar and a Thinker of International Repute

Soon, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s academic brilliance ushered him into some of the most coveted positions in Indian academia. He was the Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University and Banaras Hindu University, two of the best institutions in India. His influence spilt beyond Indian shores when he was appointed King George V Chair of Mental and Moral Science at the University of Calcutta and subsequently to the Spalding Chair of Eastern Religions and Ethics at Oxford University.

During this period, he wrote a series of works, including “The Philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore” and “An Idealist View of Life.” These established him as a profound interpreter of Indian philosophy and, at the same time, as an effective controversialist who did not hesitate to speak his mind boldly against the Western school of philosophers. His scholarship had unfolded before the world of Hindu philosophy and put him among the most influential scholars of the 20th century in comparative philosophy and religion.

The Statesman and Farseeing Leader

The intellectual works of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan ran along parallel lines with his contribution to the political and diplomatic fields. He held the office of ambassador of India to the Soviet Union from 1949 to 1952, at a critical time in world affairs. His diplomacy acumen helped mend India’s relations with the Soviet Union, a crucial actor in the global environs at that time.

In 1952, he was elected as the first Vice President of India, a position he served gracefully for ten years. He was the pillar of support and strength during his vice-presidency to the president of India, professing the secular ideal of India. An outspoken proponent of a secular state, Radhakrishnan considered that religious instruction in state institutions was inconsistent with the secular ideal of the Indian Constitution.

In 1962, he was elected as the second President of India. A great depth of moral authority and intellectual rigour strikingly marked his presidency. As president, he also never gave up his commitment to the cause of education, espousing the ideal non-stop in its nation-building dimensions. His transformationist belief in education was based on personal experiences and a firm conviction that knowledge was the key to a more just and equitable society.

Teacher’s Day Legacy

Perhaps the most perennial of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s legacies is the celebration of Teacher’s Day in India. This originated in 1962 when some of his students and friends approached him to celebrate his birthday. Characteristically, he said that instead of celebrating his birthday, September 5th should be observed as Teacher’s Day in honour of the contribution of teachers to society.

Since then, Teachers’ Day has become an annual event in India, and students throughout the country pay homage to their teachers through various functions. The day reminds one of the teachers’ values in moulding the minds and fortunes of the rising generation. It also speaks volumes about Radhakrishnan’s respect for the teaching profession and the status of teachers as society’s true architects.

Bridging East and West in Thought- Advaita Vedanta

One of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s most significant contributions to philosophy is his ability to bridge Eastern and Western thought. An outspoken apologist for Hinduism, he did not resist the assimilation of Western philosophical notions into his philosophical structure. This blend of ideas is reflected in his interpretation of Advaita Vedanta. Though steeped in this traditional nondualistic philosophy, Radhakrishnan revamped Advaita to accommodate diversity and complexity in the modern world.

Lying at the very centre of Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s philosophy was intuition, which he regarded as the highest knowledge. He said intuition is the divine’s direct experience, transcending the narrow limits of reason and providing a more fundamental insight into reality. In this idea, he drew broad appreciation from both Eastern and Western thinkers, thus enabling him to create a philosophical bridge between the two traditions.

Controversies and Criticisms

Not all scholars, however, looked upon Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan without criticism. Some have noted that his views on Advaita Vedanta as representing the essence of Hinduism were reductive and thereby supportive of Hindu nationalism. Others criticised his perennialism, which borrowed from all religious traditions in a common unity and was also a product of colonial influences.

Another controversy he had to go through was with a Bengali intellectual magazine called The Modern Review. It accused him of plagiarism regarding his book Indian Philosophy, so the legal battle between the two continued until it was settled out of court. Despite all this, Radhakrishnan emerged with his intellectual and moral stature almost intact. His contribution to Indian thought and global philosophy remained widely recognised.

A Legacy in Education and Philosophy

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan was a life of phenomenal achievements and profound impacts. As a philosopher, he reinvented Hindu thought and made it accessible. As an educationalist, he epitomised the cause of knowledge and learning and stood for the imperative of education in constructing a decent and fair society. As a statesman, he kept the secular vision of India aloft and contributed remarkably to shaping its national identity.

Today, on this Teacher’s Day, while remembering Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, one is bound to remember all those teachers who struggled throughout life to keep the light of learning alive in every possible corner alongside the more outstanding interests of human civilisation. His life and works have continued inspiring generations on the power of education to transform life and contribute to a better future.

Are you a parent wondering if your parenting style impacts your child? Raising a child is a remarkable journey, and you may question if you are doing your best for your child. Building a positive child-parent relationship involves open communication and a supportive environment. Understanding yourself as a parent and recognizing how your parenting style affects your child’s cognitive, biological and socio-emotional development is crucial. Reflecting on your parenting style helps ensure you provide what’s best for your child. 

 Parenting involves nurturing a child from infancy to adulthood. Parents need to create an ideal environment for their children’s growth, ensuring they develop into independent and responsible individuals. Key aspects of parenting include guiding and supporting the child, fostering a healthy environment, providing love and care, and allowing the child to form their own identity. A crucial element of parenting is the style used to care for the child. Psychologist Diana Baumrind, in the 1960s, identified three primary parenting styles— Authoritarian, Authoritative and Permissive. Here we understand the aspects of Permissive Parenting Style and how it affects your children. 

The Permissive parenting style is described by Baumrind as the type with low demands and high responsiveness. Some of its qualities are that the parents are quite lenient, find it hard to make rules for their children and agree with most decisions their children make. As the word ‘Permissive’ suggests, parents who follow this approach tend to stay away from their children’s life and provide them with every want and need. Some of the characteristics that this type of parenting style also portray which you might see in your daily life are

• child-centric behaviour 
• high tolerance for misbehaviour 
• leniency in forming boundaries
• open communication 

   The above characteristics encompass the ability of the parents to provide love and affection for their children to an extreme extent where the lines of authority and responsibility are blurred. While it might be extremely crucial to provide emotional support to your child, giving them the first line of dependency on yourself rather than their own regulation can also make it harder for them to deal with their problems in the long run. Some of the best qualities of this type are the open communication, friendship, dependability and closeness between you and your child. 

 Effects

 Since we now understand the crux of the permissive parenting style, here are some of the effects it has on your children

Impulsiveness

Without you being there to stop any behaviour of your child, they may continue to act the same. It may be as simple as them not doing their homework to stealing something from the shop. This can lead to them having no consequences for their actions increasing their frequency of impulsive behaviour as they get older. Having no discipline can hence lead them to not having to think through before acting or due to fear of a consequence.

Difficulty accepting authority

Children grown with a permissive parenting style can have significant difficulty in accepting authority as they get older. This happens due to their lifestyle being unequipped with rules and regulations or boundaries. This upbringing can lead them to have a lack of respect for rules, making it difficult for them to adapt to the school system and other forms of structure. These children often lack the constructive criticism provided by authoritative figures but rather take them as a threat to their independence. Since they haven’t been taught to accept consequences, staying in the structure and compromises can get difficult for them. For example, a child always being given what they wanted like junk food or chocolates and snacks is being restricted for the first time in the preschool by the teacher. This can be an extremely difficult experience for the child and they might stay relatively resistant to the authority figure which is the teacher. 

Low self-esteem

Low self-esteem in children raised by permissive parents often stems from the lack of clear boundaries and consistent guidance. Without rules, children may feel insecure, as they don’t have a strong sense of right or wrong or the confidence that comes from mastering challenges that are present in the outside world. This insecurity can lead to feelings of inadequacy and self-worth, as they are unaware of their abilities and question their place in the world. For example, a child allowed to not take up any chores or responsibilities may end up struggling later on in life when faced with these. While facing these and the difficulties they might encounter, they may doubt their capabilities, feeling they cannot succeed with external validation and support. This self-doubt can also make them more susceptible to criticism, causing them to shy away from challenges and reinforcing their self-worth. Ultimately, the permissive parenting style may deprive children of the confidence-building experiences required to enhance their self-worth. 

Modify

Now that we understand the effects of the probable consequences of continuing this parenting style, here are some of the ways you can modify your parenting style to a more practical and effective approach for your children.

Communicate 

Since we know that there is open communication established between parents and children of the permissive parenting style, we need to understand the effectiveness of this process. An ideal communication between a parent and a child would be a blend of guided and friendly approaches rather than a friendly approach usually adopted in this style of parenting. Hence, slowly changing your communication style to facilitate the growth of your child rather than focusing on staying “friendly” with them would help them in the long run. 

Balance

The optimal balance between warmth and structure needs to be maintained to provide your child with responsibilities and an understanding of the outer world. While we understand that most permissive parents concentrate on providing utmost warmth, love and affection to their children, you also need to know the effects as described above. Love without consequences may end up leading your child to hurt in the future while they form other relationships. Having a balance between structure or rules and warmth or love can help your children learn the effective way of forming any relationship.

Consistency

Providing a set of rules to be followed, helping them realise there are consequences for their actions, and also pushing them to take on responsibility and ownership are a few of the ways you can achieve structure which is lacking in your permissive approach. Being consistent with these principles and also blending them with the warmth and love you provide can make your child feel more secure and develop their sense of self in a more positive environment. 

  At the end, Permissive Parenting Style has its strengths and weaknesses. It is quite apparent to state that though there is an “ideal” parenting style to achieve, every parent may not be able to achieve it due to their difficulties and differences. While we point this out, we can also strive to achieve what’s best for our children since upbringing is also about certain changes to be made within you. Fostering a healthy communication approach, balance between structure and warmth, and also consistency with rules can provide your children with a healthier upbringing and prepare them for the outside world.