Patna, Feb. 17: The sudden spate of youth suicides in the state capital is forcing parents and teachers to sit up and contemplate the reasons behind the teenagers taking the extreme step.

Psychiatrists believe peer pressure and love-related matters are the primary causes.

“Depression, anxiety and examination fear are pushing youths to the edge,” said veteran psychiatrist Vinay Kumar.

“Youths are under different kinds of pressure. Sometimes, when parents bring their wards to me, it is difficult to detect who is more depressed. When a person cannot find any support at all, he or she takes the final step,” said Vinay.

He added: “Bihar has a very conventional mindset. Parents understand there are only two or three courses — medicine, engineering and civil services — that children can pursue. The kids are forced to choose from these streams and no attention is paid to their likes and dislikes. There is also a communication gap between teenage kids and their parents. Unable to share their problems with their family, youths suffer from anxiety and depression,” he added.

The psychiatrist expressed concern over the influence of peer group on young minds. “Youth are under a lot of stress as they have to straddle two different worlds — one at home with parents and the other with peers. Because of the access to the media, they are entering romantic relations at a very early age. Relationships, as we all know, are complicated and youths do not have the maturity to deal with them. This also causes stress,” he said.

Vinay said: “I have treated a boy, barely in his late teens, who has ben involved with a number of girls. None of his relationships lasted beyond a few months as neither the boy nor his girlfriends had the emotional maturity. Youths need counselling when they get depressed and without guidance, they get stressed out.”

According to psychiatrists, about 80 to 90 per cent of suicides are a result of acute depression and can be prevented by timely counselling.

“Parents should be observant of the changing behaviour of children. They should try to communicate with their wards, and allow them to open up and share their worries. said Rakesh Sharma, a psychiatrist with the Railway Hospital.