Parents scared to leave kids alone

MUMBAI: Shoaib Aslam Khan's unexpected suicide has left the neighbourhood shocked and residents of Upadhaya Chawl in Vijay Nagar, Sakinaka, have decided not to leave their children alone.
"A week ago he asked me how to hang oneself. I then warned him against a silly step," Shoaib's uncle Nabiullah Khan told TOI. "My nephew was curious to know what it felt like since he heard of similar cases and recently saw the hanging body of a 24-year-old girl," Nabiullah said.
His mother Sahijahan said Shoaib (12) was not depressed and his action was due to the spate of suicides that was witnessed in the locality."He struggled for life in front of his younger siblings. I would have not left him alone if I knew that the recent suicides in the area had such a deep impact on my son," she said. Her nine-year-old son, the most affected by the episode, kept crying, "I want my brother back." "He was closely attached to Shoaib . He uses to take care of Aman who does not keep a good health," the deceased mother said.
After Shoaib turned 12 on May 18, his parents were planned to get their son admitted in a boarding school for a proper education. "Shoaib was an intelligent boy. Unfortunately, children of today's generation grasp anything that happens around them or from films. They try to imitate it, without realising the consequences," said neighbour Yusuf Shaikh.
When TOI visited Vijay Nagar locality the people were found discussing that they have to take a serious measures and should conduct counseling sessions both for the parents and the children's staying in the locality. Parents are more worried about their children and does not want further a child committing suicide similar to what Shoaib has done.
Social worker Najibunisa Ibrahim said there will be counselling sessions in the area on Sunday. "The session will focus on how parents can deal with the situation and make their children understand the results of imitating what Shoaib has done," she said. "Talking about experiences may seem not seem much help, but by asking children about their thoughts and getting them to talk about how they are feeling reduces their feelings of isolation and distress and so reduces the immediate risk of suicide. It is important that you don't try and deal with the situation totally on your own. The best way of helping is to refer them to someone who is equipped to offer them the help they need, while you continue to support them," she said.