In India, young girls and women often face immense emotional pressures that can lead to tragic outcomes—like deliberate self-harm and suicide. I’ve seen it firsthand in conversations with teenagers: heartbreaks feel like the end of the world, failures in exams or relationships crush their spirit, and frustrations build up without anywhere to go. Families, let’s talk openly about love, breakups, handling failure, and managing those tough emotions. It’s not weakness—it’s life, and we all need tools to navigate it.

What’s heartbreaking is that the age for these struggles—depression, self-harm, early relationships, substance use, even violence—is dropping. And most who tragically end their lives this way aren’t battling a diagnosed mental illness; they’re overwhelmed by low resilience, missing basic coping skills, and a deep sense of isolation. There’s not enough Emotional Contact Time (ECT) with loved ones, Family Contact Time (FCT), or Community Contact Time (CCT). In our fast-paced world, alienation is growing, and no amount of economic growth—like becoming the fourth-largest economy—feels meaningful when emotional well-being is suffering.

At our institution, #SMSHettySchool, we take this seriously. From ages 12-13, we use various methods to screen kids’ mental health and step in early. Our approach balances ‘Wellness’ (building strength and joy) with addressing ‘Illness’ (spotting and treating issues). It’s essential—prevention saves lives.

We need mental health screening everywhere: communities, workplaces, unions, even trains and streets. Imagine how many lives we could protect!

Women’s mental health deserves special focus. Empowering them to make tough decisions, find real purpose in life, overcome learned helplessness, and get regular screenings—it’s non-negotiable. In my chats with teenage girls in schools and colleges, I always remind them: Money is an emotion. Start earning, and even with full trust in your family or in-laws, protect your finances. It earns respect, and if things ever go wrong, you’ll stand strong on your own feet.

Early spotting of depression or domestic violence can prevent so many unnatural deaths. Even dentists can play a role—ask patients about their mental health; it opens doors.

Tools like the PHQ-9 self-rating scale can catch distress early in anyone struggling.

The government’s Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign is wonderful—let’s add a strong mental health piece to it. Protect and educate our daughters emotionally too.

These thoughts come from my keynote at the Indian Dental Association’s national conference on suicide prevention. I shared NCRB insights: about one-third of these tragedies stem from family problems. Stabilizing family health is key.

Gratitude to Dr. Afshan Laheji, Dr. Hemant Dhusia, and the IDA team for the invitation.

And kudos to #Abhaya, IDA’s nationwide push for women’s dental hygiene—it’s commendable! Let’s expand it to cover adolescent emotional crises, postpartum depression, and menopausal challenges.

Together, with compassion and action, we can save lives and build a kinder India. Let’s humanize this—talk, listen, connect. You’re not alone. 💙