The Sixteen-Year-Old’s Notebook

Sameer's mother, Anita, 44, in Pune, found her son Sameer's notebook with lines about being a burden and wanting to disappear. He is 16, quiet, and recently lost his place in the cricket team. She feels sick but decides …

Sameer's mother, Anita, 44, in Pune, found her son Sameer's notebook with lines about being a burden and wanting to disappear. He is 16, quiet, and recently lost his place in the cricket team. She feels sick but decides not to panic or punish.

That evening she sits with him and says, "I read what you wrote. I am not angry. I love you and I am worried. Are you thinking about ending your life?" Sameer starts to cry and says sometimes at night he does. She holds his hand and thanks him for telling her.

She stays with him, tells his father, and quietly secures medicines and sharp tools at home. The next morning they call the family doctor and a school counsellor and arrange an urgent appointment. She tells Sameer that if he ever feels he might act on the thoughts, they will go straight to the nearest hospital or call the emergency service.

Over the following weeks, the family eats together, keeps his sleep regular and meets the counsellor weekly. Sameer says later, "I thought I would be in trouble. I was surprised she just listened." His father, who had always kept his feelings hidden, tells Sameer about a hard time in his own youth, and father and son talk more than they have in years. Anita keeps the notebook, and gives it back to him only when he is ready.

How to recognise it

• Written or spoken comments about being a burden or disappearing.

• Recent loss, humiliation or rejection.

• Withdrawal, changes in sleep and mood.

• Secretive behaviour or a hidden diary.

• Warning signs that a young person cannot easily say aloud.

What this story explains

Teenagers may show suicide risk through writing or small hints. A calm response means listening, asking directly, securing the home and getting professional help quickly.

Probable root causes

• Depression or overwhelming stress.

• Loss of status or belonging.

• Shame and fear of punishment.

• Impulsiveness typical of the teenage years.

What to do

1. Stay calm and talk privately.

2. Ask directly about thoughts of suicide.

3. Stay with him and tell the other parent.

4. Secure medicines and other harmful items at home.

5. Contact the doctor or school counsellor urgently.

6. Go to the nearest hospital or call emergency services if he may act.

Whom to consult

• School counsellor and family doctor as an urgent first step.

• Child and adolescent psychiatrist or psychologist for assessment and treatment.

• Emergency service or nearest hospital immediately if he has a plan or cannot be kept safe.

Do and don’t

How to behave and communicate

• Say: "You can tell me anything. I will not be angry."

• Keep a gentle, steady voice.

• Thank him for telling you.

• Listen more than you speak.