Bengaluru: A teenager who falls silent may not necessarily be doing fine. Behind the silence could be a struggle they cannot articulate, a fear of being judged or the feeling that adults simply will not understand. Mental health experts Friday urged parents to create a safe space where adolescents can express themselves without fear of dismissal or unsolicited advice.“One thing which actually doesn’t come to our mind is the silent struggle. It’s even difficult for them (adolescents) to talk and express. At one end, we say, let’s normalise the conversation and let’s not be judgmental about destigmatising it as normal as any other healthcare,” said Dr Jyothi Neeraj, CEO of People Tree Hospitals.Speaking at a panel discussion following the screening of Unspoken, a short film directed by city-based Class 11 student Imaan Zara Khan, she cautioned parents against trivialising what their children share. “Typically, because it’s a child, we say, ‘Oh, that’s okay… this is nothing great.’ I think that’s something which we should never do, and also not jump in and try to give solutions,” she said.The discussion was prompted by the film, which seeks to raise awareness about adolescent mental health. The film is an adaptation of experiences that 16-year-old Zara has witnessed in society. “We keep telling young people to speak up, but what happens when you don’t have the words for what you’re feeling? That was where Unspoken began…. I wanted to show that silence doesn’t always mean everything is okay. And beyond encouraging young people to speak, we need systems that recognise when someone is struggling and know how to respond,” Zara said.The panellists also highlighted how parental control, even when driven by concern, can create distance between adults and adolescents.Urging parents not to exercise excessive control over their children, Manju Balasubramanyam, principal of Delhi Public School, Bangalore North, said parents needed to understand the world their children inhabit rather than expect them to fit into their expectations. “If you want to reach your children, get into their world, get into their lives,” Manju added.Dr Nandini Mundhkur, a developmental paediatrician, pointed to the growing disconnect between adolescents and adults, stressing the need to bridge the communication gap both at home and in school.
