Censorship Board should take out suicide acts in shows

Published on: Saturday, March 17, 2018

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By JKM
OF late, I have read many reports in the media about teenagers and students attempting suicide.

While I can figure out the reason behind their act, I am curious about how they know what to do.

Where did they get the idea to, for example, tie their neck with a rope or shawl and hang themselves from the ceiling fan?

I can only surmise that they got the idea from watching movies and TV dramas, especially those that show scenes of suicidal attempts in slow motion.

For instance, some TV dramas show scenes of homes storing a bottle of poison and the characters taking the poison to end their life.

These are scenes I see in many TV drama series. How would such images affect children especially those who are not in good health emotionally or mentally?

We can’t blame the dramas or films alone, however. We also have to look at the attitude and behaviour of parents when they see their children watching these images.

Families normally watch these TV shows together. When adults see such images, they know these are just part of the show.

But the impact could be different on children. The images could be distressing to them but when parents say nothing, they might think it is a normal behaviour.

Thus, parents need to explain the reality of the situation to their children.

The censorship board should also look at monitoring the portrayal of suicide scenes on TV shows and movies which could leave negative impressions on children.

Parents also need to check their children for signs of depression or anxiety on a regular basis.

Please take the time to talk with your children and teach them how to manage in this very competitive world.

JKM