Andhere ke paar is a story of a young boy, SP, about 10-11 years old, from a middle-class (well-to-do) urban nuclear family, who is facing bullying by his schoolmates. Reading ahead, we realize that along with bullying, there’s also a dynamic of ‘unmet’ parental expectations and consequent disappointments that have led the boy’s struggle with his self-esteem, gradually leading to depression.
Many parents who come to us find it difficult to accept that depression and other mental health issues have nothing to do with biological age. Yes! A ten year old too can suffer from depression and in fact, many of them do. Triggers and factors could be various; including those that adults may have said or done, mostly unintentionally, but often without realizing the gravity of their repercussions on the child’s mental and emotional state.