What can we learn from the story “Ramesh, Age 68”?
From the book – Chapter 12: Child, Teen and Adult Mental Health
Ramesh, Age 68
For decades, Ramesh’s life was built on two unshakeable pillars: his busy career and his devoted wife. But within a span of just two years, he lost both. He retired from his job, and shortly after, his wife passed away.
Suddenly, the heavy silence of his empty house became unbearable. Ramesh, who used to be the first one out the door for his morning walks, completely stopped leaving the house. He stopped visiting the temple, barely ate, and lost a significant amount of weight. At night, he stared at the ceiling, unable to sleep. When his children came to visit, he would sit quietly in the corner, staring at the floor, occasionally whispering, "What is the point of living anymore?"
Read the full chapter – Chapter 12: Child, Teen and Adult Mental Health
Stories from real life
- The Boy Who Could Not Sit Still – Aryan, nine, studies in a busy school in Ahmedabad. He cannot stay in his seat, forgets his homework, blurts out answers and loses his things. His…
- Sofia and the Glow of the Screen – Sofia, fifteen, lives in Johannesburg. She was a cheerful girl, but since moving to a new school she spends hours online comparing herself to girls who…
- Neha Stops Saying Yes – Neha, thirty-eight, is a project manager in Bengaluru and mother of two. Her day starts at five and ends at midnight: office calls, school lunches, in-laws'…
- Mr Iyer Forgets the Way Home – Mr Iyer, seventy-eight, a retired teacher in Chennai, took the same walk to the temple every morning for forty years. Last month he lost his way…
More on this topic: Children, teenagers and parents – mental health at home and school
More questions
- Understanding mental health across the lifespan
- Child mental health (roughly up to age 12) – explained simply
- Common mental-health issues – child mental health (roughly up to age 12)
- Role of family and school – child mental health (roughly up to age 12)
- Adolescent mental health (roughly ages 13–19) – explained simply
- Developmental context – adolescent mental health (roughly ages 13–19)
- What causes mental health at every age? Risk factors
- Common issues – adolescent mental health (roughly ages 13–19)
- Supportive approaches – adolescent mental health (roughly ages 13–19)
- Adult mental health (roughly ages 20–59) – explained simply
- Baby blues or postpartum depression?