Rising cases of suicide among students in India

Reference

The rising trend of student suicide in India is a matter of grave concern. According to the report ‘Student Suicide: An Epidemic Sweeping India’ published recently by IC3 Institute, the rate of student suicide in India is much higher than the overall suicide trends and population growth.

Key findings of the report

• Rising student suicide cases: According to the report, while total suicide cases in India have increased by 2 per cent on an annual basis, student suicide cases have increased by 4 per cent.
  • While cases of student suicide are also likely underreported.
  • The total number of suicide cases reported in 2021 was 164,033 and in 2022 was 170,924, of which student suicide cases were 13,089 and 13,044 respectively.
  • Student suicides account for 7.6 percent of total suicides, a rate comparable to suicides by people in many other occupations, including salaried workers, farmers, unemployed people, and the self-employed.
• States with the highest number of suicide cases: According to the report, in the year 2022, the highest number of student suicide cases were reported in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh.
  • A third of the total student suicide cases in the country have been reported in these states. It is followed by Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand.
  • The southern states and union territories collectively account for 29 per cent of such cases.
  • Rajasthan, whose city of Kota is known for its high academic environment, is ranked 10th.
• Gender breakdown of suicide cases: In 2022, male students accounted for 53 per cent of total student suicides. Between 2021 and 2022, male student suicides decreased by 6 per cent, while female student suicides increased by 7 per cent.
  • According to the report, over the past decade, student suicides have increased sharply, with male suicides increasing by 50 per cent and female suicides by 61 per cent.

Causes of High Suicide Rates

• Academic pressure: Ever-increasing competition and high expectations for academic performance further aggravate the problem.
• Parental expectations: Many students face pressure from parents and society to achieve high academic success or follow specific career paths, which has serious implications for their mental health.
• Low attention to mental health: Lack of awareness about mental health problems and stigma discourages students from seeking help.
• Social apathy and peer pressure can lead to feelings of isolation and hopelessness among students.
• Lack of institutional resources: India lacks the institutional resources needed to deal with stress and emotional difficulties. Many students also have limited access to them.
• Other factors: Lack of support from families and educational institutions, changing family structure, emotional neglect, psychiatric disorders going undiagnosed due to lack of communication are also responsible for the rising rates of suicide.

Efforts being made by the government

• National Mental Health Programme (1982): It is launched to address mental health issues of the entire population including students.
  • It aims to improve access to mental health infrastructure and services.
• School Mental Health Programme: Initiatives like the School Mental Health Programme aim to integrate mental health education and support in the school environment.
  • Under the aegis of the School Health Programme under Ayushman Bharat, NCERT has developed a comprehensive package titled “Training and Resource Material: Health and Wellness of School-going Children”.
• Counselling Services: Guidelines have been issued to schools to set up counselling services and mental health awareness programmes.
• Awareness Campaigns: Various campaigns and programmes have been launched to reduce stigma and increase awareness about mental health among students, parents and teachers.

Suggestions

• Enhancing mental health education: Comprehensive mental health education should be incorporated into school curriculum to help students understand and manage their mental health.
• Improved access to counselling services: It is important to ensure that every school has trained counsellors and mental health professionals available to support students.
• Parental guidance and support: Parents should be provided with resources and training to help them effectively understand and support their children’s mental health needs.
• Policy reform: Educational policies need to be reevaluated and reformed to reduce undue pressure on students and promote a more holistic approach to learning and assessment.
• Making support systems effective: Community support systems should be developed and strengthened, providing mental health resources and support outside of the school environment.
• Anti-bullying programmes: Strong anti-bullying policies need to be implemented and enforced to create a safer and more supportive school environment.