“Suicide, at any age, is a major issue for the family members and the whole society yet it could be even more devastating when the victim is a child or a teenager”.
Last week, social media platforms in Oman shared an interview with the mother of a young girl who committed suicide at school. The mother appeared well-composed and provided an excellent narrative of the events that led to the tragic incident. She described how, after dropping her daughter at school on what appeared to be a regular day, she later received a call from her ex-husband — the girl’s father — who had been informed by the school of what had happened. That call changed her life forever. The mother was left with a deep void and a haunting question: why didn’t I recognise that my daughter was not well? Suicide, at any age, is a major tragedy for families and society, but it is especially heartbreaking when the victim is a child or teenager.
Grieving parents are often left with intense feelings of guilt, shame, and self-blame. They find themselves questioning every interaction, every missed opportunity, and every silent plea they may have overlooked. Unfortunately, many in our society hold unhelpful and judgemental attitudes toward those who take their own lives, often questioning their religious commitment or moral strength and, worse, blaming the parents for being inattentive or negligent.
Despite alarming figures from the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding the rise in teenage suicides, and the well-documented links between mental health issues — such as depression, substance abuse, bullying, and the negative effects of social media — and increased suicide risk, there remains a concerning lack of national response. In many countries, suicide prevention programmes are still either underdeveloped or absent. Often, when suicide cases make the news, they become a topic of discussion briefly before fading away without concrete actions.
Discussions around establishing a national suicide helpline, enhancing school-based mental health services, or launching awareness campaigns about the warning signs of depression and anxiety tend to remain just discussions.
The mother who courageously spoke out shared her suspicion that her daughter was suffering from what she called "smiling depression" — known in clinical literature as masked depression.
This condition describes individuals who, despite appearing cheerful and functional on the outside, may be battling persistent sadness, fatigue, low motivation, sleep disturbances, and appetite changes. It is a real but often misunderstood presentation of depression that can escape the attention of even close family members.
While masked depression does exist, it is essential to emphasise that many forms of depression present with more visible symptoms. Persistent sadness, irritability, withdrawal from friends and family, changes in school performance, and talk of hopelessness or self-harm should never be ignored. Schools, parents, and healthcare professionals must work together to spot these red flags early. Mental health must be integrated into our conversations at home and school, and access to care must be normalised, not stigmatised.
This tragic incident must serve as a wake-up call. It is not just a personal loss for one family — it is a societal failure. We to build a system where asking for help is safe, accessible, and encouraged. Let us not wait for another heartbreaking story to remind us of what needs to be done.
BLURB
Despite alarming figures from the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding the rise in teenage suicides and the well-documented links between mental health issues and increased suicide risk, there remains a concerning lack of national response.
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