The Silent Surrender

The Silent Surrender: Why Our Youth Are Giving Up — And What We Must Do About It

By Dr. Lokesh Dhanwantri

In the shadows of success stories, amidst top exam ranks and booming startups, there lies a silent crisis — one we can no longer ignore. A crisis not of performance, but of pain. Of inner battles. Of young lives quietly giving up.

Teen and youth suicides are no longer isolated incidents. They have become heartbreakingly common — in cities, towns, and even rural villages across India. Global data shows suicide is now the second-leading cause of death for those aged 10 to 34. In India, cultural pressure, intense competition, and collapsing support systems have only made it worse.

And while society celebrates marksheets and milestones, an entire generation is asking:

“Who sees my pain? Does anyone really care?”

Behind the Smile: A Hidden Epidemic

Let’s look at some sobering facts:

• 164,000+ people died by suicide in India in 2023 (NCRB).

• Suicide is now the second leading cause of death for ages 10–34 (CDC, 2023).

• Over 12% of young adults (18–25) report serious thoughts of suicide (SAMHSA, 2024).

• A staggering 1 in 5 high school students worldwide has seriously considered suicide in the past year.

And these are just the ones we know. The unreported, the silenced, the brushed-under-the-carpet emotional breakdowns — they’re everywhere.

So let’s ask the hard question:

Why Are Our Youth Giving Up?

We often say “it’s a mental health issue.” Yes — but in India, it’s also a cultural and spiritual crisis.

Our roots lie in stories of courage, patience, and dharma. But today, those stories are replaced by screens, reels, and pressure.

We are losing our inner compass — and we are raising a generation that’s intelligent, yes… but emotionally starving.

Where Are We Going Wrong?

1. Emotionally Unavailable Parenting

Modern parents are more educated and financially stable — but often emotionally absent. Conversations are about performance, not presence. And a child who doesn’t feel safe to express emotions at home will seek validation in dangerous places.

2. The Success-Only Narrative

We glorify winning, but shame failure. The message is clear: “If you don’t top, you’re not good enough.”But falling is part of life. Failing builds strength. Why aren’t we teaching that?

3. Consumerism Over Character

From “Who am I?” we’ve moved to “What do I own?”Materialism fuels comparison and self-doubt. When self-worth is tied to likes, brands, or filters — the soul starts to shrink.

4. Pressure-Cooker Education

We still judge potential by memory and marks. Where is the time for rest, for creativity, for emotional development?

5. Disconnection From Dharma

Dharma isn’t about religion. It’s about balance, truth, and purpose.Without it, our children drift. When challenges come — they collapse.

Hyperconnected. Yet Deeply Alone.

Our youth live online 24/7. Surrounded by likes, followers, and filtered “perfection.” Yet inside, they feel invisible, unloved, unworthy.

Social media has created a comparison culture that is impossible to win.Add cyberbullying, body-shaming, and cancel culture — and you have a generation under emotional siege.

So What Can We Do?

We don’t need big revolutions. We need small, powerful shifts in how we parent, teach, and lead.

1. Relearn Parenting

Raise children for their soul, not for society.Spend time listening. Validate their emotions. Let them fail and rise again.

2. Prioritize Emotional Intelligence

Teach kids to name their feelings. To sit with discomfort. To speak without shame.Build resilience, not just resumes.

3. Reconnect With Our Cultural Roots

Revive the Ramayana, the Panchatantra, the Mahabharata — not as myths, but as emotional blueprints.Celebrate not just rituals, but values.

4. Be Present, Not Just Productive

Parents — take breaks.Leaders — check on your teams’ well-being, not just their KPIs.Teachers — make space for fear, doubt, and vulnerability.

5. Create Safe Spaces

Normalize conversations around therapy, anxiety, and suicide prevention.Remove the shame. Make help visible and accessible.

Let’s Be the Generation That Fights Back

We still have time to shift this story — if we choose awareness over denial, connection over convenience, and compassion over control.

Let us redefine success:Not just by marks or money — but by balance, empathy, purpose, and peace.

Let us remind every young person:

💬 You are not alone.

💬 You are not weak.

💬 Your life is sacred and worth living — always.

Final Words: Choose Life. Choose Faith.

In our Vedic teachings, life is seen as a divine opportunity.Each soul is born with a purpose. And when a life ends too soon, that sacred mission remains incomplete.

So, to every young person reading this:You are not your exam results.You are not your Instagram feed.You are a soul of light, strength, and infinite possibility.

To every parent, educator, and leader:Be the voice of hope.Be the safe place.Be the reason someone holds on — instead of letting go.

🕊️ Let’s raise not just achievers, but emotionally strong, grounded human beings.Only then will the next generation not surrender — but rise.