Talk to tackle

As student-suicide cases rise, Shaheen Bhatt on using campaign Question Marks to create safe spaces for pressured teens

On Wednesday, author and mental-health advocate Shaheen Bhatt launched MTV’s latest initiative, Question Marks, which aims to highlight the ever-increasing academic pressure on students and change the conventional definition of success. As the cause ambassador, Bhatt wants to raise awareness on the pressure thrust on young minds and destigmatise mental-health conversations. Her primary focus will be on suicide prevention. Considering that a recent survey by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) states that 36 students die by suicide every day, Bhatt recognises the urgency of the issue. She says, “It’s important to have a conversation about the pressure that is put on kids. This is a positive step towards changing things. Everyone wants to succeed, and people are doing their best. My parents valued effort and attempt more than outcome. My pressure was internal despite the support system.”

She emphasises that adolescence is a period of mental and spiritual growth, and one needs an encouraging environment. “Sadly, the stats are not surprising to me. The emotional scars we collect between 14 and 24 years stick through life. My teen years were a high point of my depression. Talking helps. So, creating safe spaces for [the students] to talk about their feelings is important.”

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