On September 15, a student at Maulana Azad Medical College in Delhi, a topper of India’s toughest exam NEET, was tragically found dead in his room. No suicide note was recovered.
On September 26, a post-graduate student from the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad was found hanging, allegedly due to stress.
On September 27, a 19-year-old woman pursuing her second year of Computer Science Engineering at Gitam University in Telangana’s Sangareddy district, died by suicide in her hostel room.
These are just headlines from the past month. There are several more cases of student suicide in the country that may have not been reported. Incidents like these, unfortunately, are becoming increasingly common in India.
STUDENT SUICIDE RATE IN INDIA
Student suicide rates in India have surged dramatically over the last decade.
According to the 2022 report by the National Crime Records Bureau, 13,044 student suicides were recorded, reflecting a slight decrease of 0.3% from the previous year. However, over a span of 10 years (2013-2022), student suicides increased by 64%, with 1,03,961 suicides reported, marking a troubling trend.
The IC3 Institute, a volunteer-based organisation that provides support to high schools around the world through guidance and training resources, highlighted that student suicides are growing at a rate of 4% annually.
Despite decriminalising suicide attempts for those with mental illnesses under the 2017 Mental Healthcare Act, the under-reporting of student suicides remains a challenge.
REGIONAL HOTSPOTS FOR STUDENT SUICIDES
Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh are the states with the highest number of student suicides, collectively accounting for one-third of the national total.
Rajasthan, home to the infamous Kota coaching hub, ranked tenth with 571 student suicides. The Southern states and union territories accounted for the highest regional proportion at 29%.
MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS AMONG YOUTH
A UNICEF report reveals that one in seven young people aged 15-24 in India suffers from poor mental health, including symptoms of depression. Shockingly, only 41% of these individuals seek help when dealing with mental health challenges, highlighting the stigma surrounding mental health support.
The rise in student suicides can be attributed to a mix of factors, including academic pressure, competitive environments, and poor emotional regulation.
Clinical psychologist Dr Aarushi Dewan pointed out that past trauma, family history of suicide, and exposure to glorified media portrayals of suicide can further aggravate the mental health of students.
Easy access to lethal means, chronic mental illnesses such as depression, and a lack of constructive coping mechanisms all contribute to students “feeling trapped.”
Dr Dewan emphasised the need for better emotional support systems and “de-stigmatisation of therapy to help students navigate their challenges more effectively.”
Ganesh Kohli, founder of the IC3 Movement that developed the report, shared that most suicides among high school students were caused by five major factors, including academic pressure, family pressure, body image, college admission and financial pressure.
Anvi Kumar, a 17-year-old advocate for the mental health of teenagers and the founder of MindCanvas, said, “Many students feel overwhelmed by the competitive education system, coupled with the lack of accessible counselling and support in schools. Social media and peer pressure further exacerbate feelings of inadequacy, making it essential to address mental health as part of the educational framework.”
Educational institutions and parents play a critical role in this.
“Teachers need to create a safe and non-judgmental environment for students, where they can feel comfortable discussing their challenges,” said Anvi Verma.
Ganesh Kohli highlighted the importance of teachers becoming counsellors. “Educational institutions could start creating activities that act as counselling sessions – morning assembly, teaching classes etc. Systemic counselling is required to lower this student suicide rate. A mass movement is the correct approach to see radical change,” the entrepreneur said.
The stigma around mental health remains a significant barrier to students seeking help, the experts said.
HOW TO HANDLE THIS BURDEN?
Normalising conversations about mental health, and having teachers and parents openly address these issues, can help reduce this stigma and encourage students to reach out when they need support.
Psychiatrist Dr Sneha Sharma shared that at home, parents and family members could take certain steps to avoid “unhealthy stress” in teenagers.
“Open communication and listening to their children and their emotions is vital. Emotional support and validation, encouraging mental health discussions, creating healthy coping mechanisms by adults and seeking professional help when needed,” said Dr Sharma.
As suicide rates continue to rise, it is crucial to prioritise mental health support and awareness to prevent further tragedies. Addressing the root causes of stress, emotional neglect, and lack of mental health resources can go a long way in curbing this alarming trend.
The Ministry of Education issued the toll-free helpline number 8448440632 for students’ mental well-being as part of the Manodarpan initiative.
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