Recognising a problem is the first step towards finding a solution. But in the case of mental health issues, it is difficult to identify symptoms. This — compounded by a lack of awareness and the “taboo” status that surrounds mental health — means that many cases go untreated.
The mother of Indian teenager Abhimanyu Sadasivan, who committed suicide two years ago, has spoken about her experience in an attempt to convince troubled children to reach out for help and understand the devastating consequences of suicide on families. She told The National that although academic pressure may have triggered his suicide — he wrote a note about it on an exam paper five days earlier — every time Abhimanyu was asked how he was, he would say he was fine.
This story provides lessons for all parents. The most important one is that communicating with children is critical. Sometimes parents are so caught up with their work and social lives that they lose awareness of their children’s psychological well-being. It’s easier to spot physical diseases than mental illnesses, especially in the case of neurosis, including depression, anxiety, obsessive behaviour and hypochondria. It’s important to have two-way communication with the child and encourage them to come forward if they are distressed or suffer from other negative feelings.
The new child protection law, which came into effect last week, places more responsibility on parents, school staff and others dealing with children to be vigilant about the children's well-being. The legislation is intent on removing the stigma that surrounds depression and mental health issues.
If signs of stress had been detected in the case of Abhimanyu, his suicide may have been prevented. His mother said that she was sure that if he had known how much his family would suffer, he would not have taken his own life.
As we go through another stressful exam period, we should be careful not to put too much pressure on children. And, as a community, we should remember we are all responsible for protecting children and looking out for signs that something may be wrong.
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
Company%20profile
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Coal Black Mornings
Brett Anderson
Little Brown Book Group
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
How to donate
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
Company profile
Name: Infinite8
Based: Dubai
Launch year: 2017
Number of employees: 90
Sector: Online gaming industry
Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners