In recent years, India has witnessed a disturbing rise in student suicides, reflecting systemic and institutional failures that demand urgent attention.

Rising Trend of Student Suicides

• Increasing Numbers: National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) data shows 13,892 student suicides in 2023. 
• Growth Trend: Represents a 34.4% increase from 2019 (10,335) and 64.9% increase from 2013 (8,423).
• Annual Toll: Approximately 14,000 students aged 18–30 die by suicide every year.
• Demographic Impact: These individuals are part of India’s demographic dividend and represent the nation’s future workforce.
• Cumulative Toll: Between 2013 and 2023, a total of 1,17,849 students died by suicide in India.
• Iceberg Phenomenon: Research suggests that for every death by suicide, there are at least 20 attempts. The recorded deaths are only the “tip of the iceberg,” hiding a massive base of anxiety, depression, and mental stress.

Key Reasons for the Rise in Student Suicides

• Immense Academic Pressure: It is a “rat race” pressure driven by competition for limited seats (e.g., in UPSC, NEET, or JEE). 
  • Parental expectations and societal pressure reduce a student’s identity solely to their ranks and marks. 
  • Recent reports of irregularities in exams further increase stress and lead to disillusionment with the system.
• Institutional Apathy and Discrimination: Many students face issues like caste-based discrimination (Examples such as Rohit Vemula, Dr. Payal Tadvi). 
  • Institutions often fail to provide help when students approach them, demonstrating a systemic failure.
• Financial Barriers: Quality education is expensive, leading many students to take out education loans. 
  • This creates constant pressure to secure a high-paying job immediately to repay the loan and support the family. 
  • If the economy slows down or jobs are scarce, this financial stress quickly morphs into mental stress.
• Neglect of Mental Health: Discussing mental health is still considered a taboo in Indian society. 
  • Students who admit to feeling depressed are often dismissed as weak.
• Lack of Professionals: There is a severe shortage of trained counsellors in universities.
  • The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 3 psychiatrists per 1 lakh population, but India has only 0.75 per 1 lakh, highlighting substantial negligence.

Policy and Judicial Interventions

• Supreme Court Judgment (Amit Kumar and Others vs. Union of India): In March 2024, the Supreme Court issued two key directions:
  • It mandated that an FIR must be registered and an investigation conducted into every suspected case of student suicide to determine the underlying reasons.
  • It established a National Task Force for Student Well Being and Suicide Prevention.
• National Task Force: This body is led by Justice (Retired) S Ravi Bhat. 
  • Its mandate is to consult all stakeholders (teachers, parents, experts, students) to understand the problem and recommend solutions. 
  • It uses surveys and a dedicated website to collect grassroots-level data.
• Mental Healthcare Act, 2017: Section 115 of this Act de-criminalised the attempt to commit suicide. 
  • It stipulates that a person attempting suicide is a victim needing rehabilitation and care, not a criminal.
• National Suicide Prevention Policy (2021): This policy targets reducing suicide mortality by 10% by the year 2030 and emphasizes multi-sectoral collaboration among stakeholders.

Way Forward

• Institutional Changes:
  • Mandatory Well-Being Centers: Every educational institution must have a functional Well-Being Center with trained counselors. Example: Mitra Program, IIT Madras.
  • Faculty Sensitization: Faculty members trained to recognize distress and interact with students with empathy.
  • Anti-Discrimination Cells: Must be action-oriented, not merely symbolic.
• Academic Reforms:
  • Curriculum Flexibility: Syllabi should be adaptable to student needs.
  • Shift in Focus: From rote learning to critical thinking and skill development.
  • Evaluation Reform: Avoid a single exam determining a student’s life path.
• Societal Changes:
  • Remove Stigma: Address social stigma associated with mental health.
  • Parental Communication: Parents should prioritize emotional well-being and holistic growth over academic scores.
  • Redefine Success: Broaden the definition of success beyond marks and salary.
• Role of Youth/Peers:
  • Peer Support: Create non-judgmental spaces, listen actively, and encourage professional help for friends struggling with loneliness or depression.

Conclusion

Each student lost represents a broken family, an unfinished story, and a shattered dream. Addressing this crisis demands collective responsibility from the government, educational institutions, society, families, and peers.

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