Misha Aggarwal was just days away from turning 25 when the world lost her. A social media influencer with thousands of followers, Misha’s posts were filled with energy, colour and style. But on April 24, 2025, behind those filters and perfectly framed selfies, something deeply painful was hidden.
On April 30, her family came forward with the news—Misha had died and later revealed the cause of death: Suicide.
This moment is not just about Misha—it reflects a quiet crisis many young people are silently enduring. For parents, it’s a reminder to truly see their children, not just their achievements or smiles, but their unspoken emotional worlds too.
Not all pain cries out loud
Mental health struggles rarely announce themselves with dramatic signs. Sometimes, it's in skipped meals, late-night scrolling, or a sudden silence after once lively conversations. The pressure to seem 'happy' online can bury real feelings.
When a child appears " fine" but becomes more withdrawn, less interested in things once loved, or develops a sudden fixation with online validation, those might be whispers of distress. These aren't just habits—they're coping mechanisms for feelings that haven’t found words yet.
Dreams can quietly turn into cages
There is beauty in ambition, but when self-worth becomes tied to numbers, marks, medals, or followers, it can quietly imprison a mind.
When children begin to define themselves only through achievements, it slowly replaces their sense of ‘being enough’. It's important to ask: What happens when that goal isn’t met? And more importantly, who are they beyond it?
The home must be a safe space, not a scoreboard
Children thrive where they feel seen without performance. The pressure of always doing well—whether academically, socially, or digitally—can exhaust a mind already balancing self-doubt.
A simple dinner conversation without judgment, a quiet hour of listening, or even sitting in silence together can offer more healing than any advice. Sometimes, children don’t need answers—they just need a soft place to land.
The internet is loud, but the heart is often quiet
Likes, comments, shares—they seem small, but for someone like Misha, they carried weight. These metrics can feel like applause, but when they fall silent, it can feel like rejection. The digital world amplifies validation but does not offer true connection.
It becomes essential to help children separate self-worth from social media metrics. Reminding them gently, through consistent words and actions, that love is not a number and connection is not counted in clicks.
Check in, not just check up
Questions like "How was the day?" are important, but they often fetch rehearsed answers. A deeper kind of check-in is needed. It means watching the mood behind the words, the energy behind a smile, and noticing what’s left unsaid.
Trust is built not only by asking questions but also by accepting whatever comes without panic or shame. When a child feels that nothing is too heavy to be spoken at home, a bridge forms—one that can carry even the darkest thoughts to safety.
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