DR. TISSY M. THOMAS ADVOCATES FOR UPDATED PARENTING SKILLS IN THE FACE OF NEW-GEN CHALLENGES AND POST-COVID MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

"Parenting skills need updating to keep up with new-gen kids." - Dr. Tissy Mariam Thomas
The discussion began by addressing the mental well-being of Malayalis and identifying the real problems they face. Dr. Tissy M. Thomas pointed out that negative emotions such as fear, anxiety, and stress have increased post-COVID. Statistics show a rise in suicide rates and an increasing number of people seeking therapy. In her book "Malayaliyude Manolokam," she explores topics like what`s happening to the human mind and the reasons behind this mental state. In the post-COVID era, the increased exposure to the internet has significantly impacted the psychological well-being of everyone, especially children. Children are introduced to the digital world at a young age, affecting their concentration, focus, and memory span. Dr. Tissy M. Thomas shared an experience from a colleague who, as a frontline worker during COVID-19, faced many deaths. This experience instilled fear in his mind about the safety of his family. Fear has become a primary emotion affecting society, and surviving this fear post-COVID has been the focus, she stated. In her book, Dr. Tissy M. Thomas explores parenting skills, which play a major role in shaping young minds. She cited `Thoppi,` a social media influencer, as a bad example of parenting. She emphasized that parenting skills need updating to keep up with the new generation of kids. The book also covers the concept of feminist parenting and teaching children about diversity and equality. It provides ways to connect with a child emotionally, encouraging them to open up and strengthen the parent-child relationship. The discussion took place between the speaker, Dr. Tissy M. Thomas, and the moderator, C. Kabani. The session concluded with a brief conversation about how patriarchal society puts immense pressure on men due to unfair social standards, which is often stated as a major reason for the prevalence of high suicide rates among men.