KOZHIKODE: A teenaged girl was recently admitted to hospital in Kozhikode after she tried to commit suicide because her friends did not give a like for her newly-posted photograph.
According to experts in mental health, emotional issues among the girls in the district have seen a steep increase with the advent of social media and the use of the latest gadgets.
Dr P.N. Suresh Kumar, former director of Indian Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences and presently professor of Department of Psychiatry, KMCT Medical College, said, “earlier, the cases of emotional issues or metal stress were seen more among adolescent boys, which at present are seen equally or more among the girls.”
There is increasing pressure on girls to perform academically, coupled with anxiety over body image “amplified by social media”. The social media culture among the youngsters can be pointed out as the villain.
Cultural shock arises due to the cultural gap among girls and their parents because of the intervention of technologies.
More effective interventions were needed to address the issue, including increasing provision of mental health services for young people, Dr Suresh suggested.
