Experts stress on communication after 97 minors reported missing in Dehradun in two months

PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun

Experts advised that parents should engage in regular communication with their children to help prevent them from taking drastic actions. This recommendation comes in light of a recent report indicating that Dehradun has seen 97 cases of missing minors over the past two months.

The police succeeded in tracing 87 of these missing children. Reports suggest that most minors left home after getting upset over minor issues. Regarding this, experts have identified key factors such as peer pressure, the impact of social media and many other factors as significant contributors to these situations.

The State’s former director general of police and the current vice chancellor of Sports University of Haryana, Ashok Kumar said that we can’t say that the said report on missing children indicates an alarming trend as such cases existed in the past too. He stated that based on his police experience, there are a few primary factors that lead children or minors to run away from home. These factors include academic pressure as well as pressure from parents who expect good grades, peer pressure, the influence of social media and home-related issues while some also run away due to relationships.

He emphasised that these elements contribute to the said actions. “To prevent such instances among children, it is advised that parents foster a friendship-like bond with their children and maintain open lines of communication. They should also be attentive to their children’s activities on social media and other platforms. Additionally, if one parent takes on a strict approach, the other should adopt a gentler demeanour during that time,” he stated.

“The impact of social media has significantly influenced children’s minds, leading them to explore and in some cases, to take drastic actions like leaving home. Other critical factors contributing to such situations, as highlighted by the recent report, include inadequate parenting, peer pressure and various other influences,” said clinical neuropsychologist Sona Kaushal Gupta.

She also said that parents need to take this issue seriously in terms of using social media, as it can impact their mental well-being and lead to those behaviours. Additionally, to prevent situations where minors leave home without notifying their parents, she emphasised the importance of parents educating themselves about effective parenting and raising awareness among their children about the negative effects of social media. Regular communication with the children is also crucial, she stated.