pune look for signs said experts urging parents and teachers to take notice if a child is talking about suicide they also sought increased bonding between parents and children to address their psychological and emotional issues rather than unmet demands for trivial things nongovernmental organizations and psychologists said underlying depression and mental illnesses cause tweens and teens to take the extreme step jyotsna bahirat programme coordinator at connectinga nongovernmental organisation that has been working to stem suicides particularly amongst young people told toi that of the 200 calls they receive on their helpline every month at least five are from children between 11 and 15 years of age children do not commit or attempt suicide for small reasons they do so due to triggers that may have been piling up over considerable time these can be mental illnesses depression feelings of hopelessness helplessness and worthlessness it is usually these triggers that lead to suicide attempts she said adding that underlying depression is a cause in 80 cases of suicide attempts a recent survey of 400 school children aged 15 to 16 years of age by connecting has shown that the top three reasons responsible for depression and stress among children are examination pressure expectations from parents teachers and self as well as peer pressure parents should connect with children as much as possible when parents feel that their child shows sudden mood changes or aggression too often they should be there for the child seeking professional counselling for the child is always important during such instances she said freelance counselling psychologist vibha deshpande said two reasons may lead to cases of suicide attempts or suicide by children either the child may have been feeling sad or neglected for a long period of time or he may have been so pampered that he could not take a no for answer the final event can be a very small trigger while the major triggers may have been building up since long said deshpande she added that such situations do not crop up suddenly parents must therefore take precaution from the very beginningsince the childs birth and try to understand him the child should neither be abused nor should extreme pampering be adopted said deshpande suicidal tendencies among children and other age groups are rising primarily because people feel alienated all the time though they are wellconnected through technology psychologist cheryl chakranarayan said parenting sessions in schools can help them connect with their children effective communication is the stepping stone to any successful relationship there is an increasing number of working parents who cannot spend time with children spending quality time with children makes a positive difference what such sessions target is to enable parents to understand the childs psyche parents and children should indulge in more structured activities together and communicate more she said johnson thomas of mumbaibased aasra a crisis intervention centre for the lonely distressed and suicidal said they receive seven to 10 calls a month from children below 15