I READ with concern the newspaper reports regarding a teen medium's suicide pact with six friends.

Parents, elders and teachers can play a significant role in showing concern and guiding students whenever they are in trouble.

Ways of showing concern may include knowing what sort of friends a teenager has made and is close to, what type of activities he is involved in and what is his progress in studies, as well as his financial situation.

Only by knowing all these can educators and parents work together to solve the teenager's problems or difficulties.

With parents and teachers showing love and concern, teenagers will be more willing to share their thoughts and views.

In due course, parents and teachers will be able to react and take appropriate action to stop undesirable incidents from occurring, such as the unfortunate deaths of two students in the group mentioned above, who agreed to commit suicide together.

Mr Teo Kueh Liang

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