Student suicides have reached an alarming scale in India, with students making up 7.6% of the country's total suicide deaths, according to a recently released report by National Crime Records Bureau.
The report, which used the most recent data from 2022, showed that an estimated 13,000 students die every year by suicide in India. Official figures for suicides in 2023 and 2024 have yet to be published.
Research and government reports point to a combination of academic and social stress, and lack of institutional support and awareness, as contributing factors.
"I see these numbers as not just statistics but as signs of silent suffering buried under societal norms and expectations," Anjali Nagpal, a neuropsychiatrist who has studied the issue closely, told DW.
"I have observed that children are not taught how to handle failure, disappointment or uncertainty. We prepare them for exams, not for life," she added.
"Mental health education should be a regular part of school life not limited to isolated sessions. Students need space to talk and be heard. Teachers must be trained to listen, not just lecture," Nagpal said.
Calls grow for mental health support
On Monday, Indian Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar shared the report's findings before a session of parliament.
The government acknowledged that despite a series of educational reforms and new mental health initiatives, "extreme academic pressure" continues to affect vulnerable students.
Majumdar outlined that the government is implementing multipronged measures to address the issue, including providing psychological support for students, teachers and families through various programs.
Nelson Vinod Moses, founder of the Suicide Prevention India Foundation, told DW that persistent "toxic competitiveness," combined with harsh grading systems and inadequate mental health support, are important factors contributing to student suicides.
"A silent epidemic is pushing many to a breaking point. There seems to be an undercurrent of anxiety and mistrust running through India's education system," Moses said.
In his reckoning, college counselors need to be trained in suicide screening, risk assessment and management and counseling at-risk students.
"We do not want young lives tragically cut short and that is why campuses need to introduce emotional intelligence, life skills stress management and suicide prevention. Gatekeeper training for students and faculty is important," he added.
'Safety nets' needed for vulnerable students
A 2019 study on suicides among Indian college students, led by researchers from the University of Melbourne in Australia and India's National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, along with several Indian medical colleges, sought to explore the extent of mental health issues.
Comprising over 8,500 students from 30 universities across nine Indian states, the survey found that over 12% of students had experienced suicidal thoughts in the past year, and 6.7% had attempted suicide at some point in their life.
The study emphasized the urgent need for mental health interventions and supportive measures within educational institutions to address this growing crisis.
India's Supreme Court, which has described the situation as a "suicide epidemic," set up a 10-member national task force chaired in March.
The task force is currently engaged in wide-ranging investigations, consultations and institutional reviews, and aims to deliver a comprehensive policy blueprint.
Maheshwer Peri, founder and CEO of Careers360, an education technology startup that provides comprehensive career guidance and entrance exam preparations, told DW that many young Indians are under immense pressure to succeed.
"It is unfortunate that a student sometimes is judged on a single day for a competitive exam, which causes him or her to take their life. We need to create safety nets for students," Peri said.
"Most of these students do not have sufficient support systems and study in isolation. There is an urgent need for expanded and integrated mental health care tailored to students' needs."
Achal Bhagat, a psychiatrist in Delhi with over 30 years of experience, said a narrow definition of success, gender disparity, violence, and lack of opportunities for employment all contribute to mental health problems among students.
"You either fail or you are a genius. The systems that govern society and its institutions are inflexible and do not engage in discourse with the young. This sense of helplessness and hopelessness then precipitates a tragic loss," Bhagat told DW.
"In my opinion, the most important elements of a solution are participation of the young in decision-making regarding their futures, mentoring and building accessible role models for widening the definition of success."
If you are suffering from serious emotional strain or suicidal thoughts, do not hesitate to seek professional help. You can find information on where to find such help, no matter where you live in the world, at this website: https://www.befrienders.org
