Student suicides dip slightly but mental health crisis deepens, shows NCRB data
But the dip offers little comfort as the data underscores a deepening mental health crisis, with states such as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh reporting nearly one-third of the cases.
Experts and lawmakers warned that rising academic pressure, career uncertainty, loneliness, violence, substance abuse and lack of family support are fuelling this alarming trend.
Concerns are particularly acute in competitive exam coaching hubs, such as Kota in Rajasthan, where extreme competition and gruelling schedules have been linked to a spate of student deaths.
The issue figured prominently in the last session of Parliament, with MPs demanding a commission to probe student suicides in Kota and elite institutions.
In a written reply in Lok Sabha on Monday - the first day of Parliament's Monsoon session - the govt admitted that despite the educational reforms and mental health initiatives, "extreme academic pressure" continues to push vulnerable students to the brink.
Minister of state for education Sukanta Majumdar said multi-pronged measures were being rolled out to address the crisis, including psychological support for students, teachers and families.
The education ministry's flagship programme Manodarpan has reached lakhs of students through counselling helplines and live interactive sessions while the health ministry's district mental health programme (DMHP) covers 767 districts with suicide prevention services and life skills training in schools and colleges.
Recognising the role of addiction as an emerging issue among the youth, the govt has intensified anti-drug campaigns alongside mental health outreach. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued advisories to higher education institutions to prioritise physical fitness, sports, student welfare and emotional well-being.
Institutions like IIT-Madras, IIT-Delhi and IIT-Guwahati have begun conducting workshops on stress management and resilience under the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme.
In Jan last year, the govt also issued guidelines to regulate private coaching institutes, asking states to ensure mental health support, end batch segregation and closely monitor student welfare.
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