While India has one of the lowest divorce rates globally, estimated to be around 1.1%, its exponential growth in past two decades (number of divorces doubled over the past two decades) is disturbing especially when one considers the effects of divorce upon youth.
While some mental health professionals believe that a divorce (and the naturally associated separation of a child’s daily life from one parent) is more traumatic at some ages than at others, there is certainly no good time for a young person to endure the divorce of his or her parents.
Youth may respond in multiple and varied ways to the news of their parents’ divorce, including denial, shame or embarrassment, blame or guilt, anger, fear, relief, insecurity and low self-esteem, grief, depression, alienation and loneliness, and other effects (like academic problems, behavioral problems, sexual activity, substance abuse, or suicide threats and attempts).
As parent, teacher, youth leader or caring adult, you can help an adolescent or preadolescent cope with the tragedy of divorce by implementing the following plan discussed in this article.