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DW
17 hours ago
- Health
- DW
India: What is behind the rise in student suicides? – DW – 07/23/2025
Mental health professionals have said more support programs are needed on college campuses as an alarming trend of student suicide continues. An estimated 13,000 students commit suicide in India every year. 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. 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 multi-pronged measures to address the issue, including providing psychological support for students, teachers, and families through various programs. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Nelson Vinod Moses, founder of the Suicide Prevention India Foundation, told DW a 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 counsellors need to be trained in suicide screening, risk assessment and management and counselling 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. A 2019 study on suicides among Indian college students, led by researchers from Australia's University of Melbourne, 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."
India Today
2 days ago
- Health
- India Today
One in 13 suicides in India in 2022 was of a student: Government data
Student suicides accounted for 7.6% of all suicides reported across the country in 2022. While this marked a slight drop from 8.0% in 2021 and 8.2% in 2020, the numbers still point to a deeply worrying trend. The data, drawn from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), was shared in the national parliament this week by the Minister of State for figures reveal more than just statistics. They show a burden silently carried by young minds, many of whom are struggling in ways that go departments, particularly the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, have stepped in with new efforts. One such step is the 'MANODARPAN' initiative, a programme offering psychological support through counselling helplines and live programme has already reached a large number of students across the this, the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) has been expanded to cover 767 focuses on suicide prevention and teaches life skills in both schools and colleges. Mental health is also being tied closely with addiction EFFORTS ADDRESS A GROWING CONCERNRecognising the rise of substance abuse among youth, the government has launched stronger anti-drug education bodies, including the University Grants Commission (UGC), have asked institutions to take responsibility for student well-being. The emphasis is now on physical fitness, mental strength, and emotional are encouraged to introduce sports, wellness programmes, and stress management activities on leading technical institutions have already started to respond. IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, and IIT Guwahati have begun workshops on mental resilience for students and teachers under the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training are important steps. But what remains is the question of everyday care, how teachers, parents, and classmates can spot signs of distress, and how communities can support young people not just when they fall, but before they begin to is not just a policy issue. It is a quiet crisis that needs listening, not just planning.(WITH INPUTS FROM PTI)- Ends
India Today
2 days ago
- Health
- India Today
Student suicides account for 7.6% of all suicides in India: Report
As part of this approach, the Centre has intensified anti-drug campaigns, recognising the growing concern of addiction among youth, and expanded mental health outreach. In 2022, student suicides accounted for 7.6% of all suicide cases across India, according to official statistics presented in the Lok Sabha. This marks a slight decline from 8.0% in 2021 and 8.2% in 2020. The data, sourced from the National Crime Records Bureau's (NCRB) Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI) report, was shared by Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar in response to a question in the Lower House of Parliament. The minister outlined the government's ongoing efforts to address this distressing trend. He highlighted a series of initiatives aimed at providing psychological support for students, teachers, and their families. As part of this approach, the Centre has intensified anti-drug campaigns, recognising the growing concern of addiction among youth, and expanded mental health outreach. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued guidelines for higher education institutions, urging them to focus on the physical fitness, emotional well-being, student welfare, and mental health of their students. Additionally, several institutions, including IIT-Madras, IIT-Delhi, and IIT-Guwahati, have taken proactive steps by organising workshops on stress management and building resilience. These initiatives are being carried out under the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme, which aims to equip educators with tools to better support students. Furthermore, the Ministry of Education is in the process of drafting legislation for the establishment of the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI), a proposed body that would serve as a unified regulatory authority for higher education across the country. This move is part of broader efforts to streamline and improve the quality of higher education in India.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Student suicides dip slightly but mental health crisis deepens, shows NCRB data
New Delhi: Student suicides accounted for 7.6 per cent of all suicide cases reported in India in 2022, a marginal decline from 8 per cent in 2021 and 8.2 per cent in 2020, according to the Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI) report published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). 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.
The Wire
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Wire
The Rhetoric of Social Justice Ignores the Need for it
Since the general elections of 2019, national and regional parties, especially the Congress party, have increasingly woven social justice into their political narratives, promising empowerment through the constitutional ideals of inclusive governance. As Bihar gears up for its assembly elections, the discourse on social justice has again taken centre stage, often reprimanding the ruling political class for the non-implementation of social justice policies. The Union government's recent announcement to conduct a caste census signals an intent to better understand India's complex social stratification, aiming to craft targeted welfare policies for the marginalised communities, particularly the Other Backward Classes. Though the democratic discourse is infatuated with the agenda of social justice there is a visible gap between rhetoric and reality. The continued marginalisation of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes from the sphere of power and privileges, raise questions about the commitment of the state and the political elites to bring transformative change in their lives. The Indian constitution lays a robust framework for uplifting SCs and STs through three key pillars: protection from social humiliation and exploitation with provisions like the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, ensuring that their social dignity and civic rights are safeguarded, equitable representation through reservations in state institutions that allows these groups to avail themselves crucial positions of power and privileges in governance, and last, advancing economic empowerment via dedicated budgetary provisions and policy initiatives. Policy measures like the special component plan for SCs and STs in the state budget were introduced to ensure financial assistance for the economic empowerment of these sections. However, implementation has been inconsistent on all three fronts, often with token value, leaving large sections of these communities outside the ambit of social justice policies. Persistent social injustices Despite substantive legal safeguards like the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, caste-based discrimination persists. The National Crime Records Bureau recorded 57,582 cases of atrocities against SCs and 10,062 against STs in 2022, reflecting deep-rooted systemic oppression and the limit of the state machinery to curb the menace. From rural areas, where Dalit people face violence for minor assertions of dignity, to urban centres, where discrimination in housing and employment is rampant, caste continues to shape access to opportunities. Such incidents are witnessed even in the arena of state institutions like universities (the institutional murder of Rohith Vemula) and legislative bodies (which see little discussion on the issues of caste-based violence). This underscores the failure of the governing classes to enforce protective measures effectively. Reservation: A partial success The reservation policy, designed to ensure SC and ST representation in state institutions, has seen uneven progress. While lower-level posts (Group C and D) in public sector units like railways and banks are often filled, senior positions remain largely inaccessible to marginalised groups even now. Especially in higher education, leadership roles such as vice-chancellors and professors are predominantly occupied by unreserved categories, highlighting structural barriers. Similarly, in the higher judiciary, SC and ST representation among judges and key functionaries is negligible, undermining the promise of equitable participation. The downsizing of public sector units has further eroded opportunities for reserved posts, exacerbating their economic exclusion. The positions of power and privileges in major state institutions are dominated by the social elites. Further, the political class and civil society have failed to engage in crucial deliberation to make private economy more inclusive with the increased participation Dalit and Adivasis. They mostly survive as the precarious labour class, distanced from the entitlements and privileges enjoyed by the middle-class. Economic marginalisation One of the major objectives of the special component plan for SCs and STs is to provide income generating assets and skill so as to enable the marginalised social groups to have a sustained economic upliftment. It intends to advance composite economic development programmes to elevate their class position. Even such a significant initiative has often been reduced to a symbolic gesture today. Exclusive funds meant for SC and ST welfare are frequently underutilised or diverted, with successive governments failing to prioritise these allocations for a substantive welfare of these groups. Under the current Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government, this trend has continued, with flagship schemes for the general welfare of all (like the Jan Dhan Yojana) overshadowing the targeted welfare schemes and policies meant for marginalised groups. There are negligible initiatives to examine the precarious economic conditions of Dalits and introduce effective public policies and schemes for their empowerment and mobility. Beyond political rhetoric of social justice As social justice becomes a rallying cry in electoral politics, its transformative potential remains limited without concrete action. The constitutional framework, though robust, requires rigorous implementation through executive accountability and policy innovation. Political parties must move beyond populist rhetoric and prioritise social justice as a core governance agenda. While the ruling dispensation under the BJP has often pledged to uphold the ideals of social justice, its decade-long tenure has seen a steady rise in caste-based violence and a dilution of policies aimed at SC and ST upliftment. Though at the symbolic level it offered prominent political gestures (like naming Draupadi Murmu the president of India), there is an absence of new initiatives to enhance their representation in public and private sectors. The growing political rhetoric on social justice shall complement with substantive executive orders and fair implementation of policies. However, the governing elites hardly felt any moral pressure to perform under constitutional directives. Further, within the democratic polity, the Dalit-Adivasi claims for social justice and inclusivity have weakened or relegated to negligible space. Their movements are quelled and not allowed to flourish. Without a popular movement and mobilisation of Dalit, Adivasi and Bahujan groups, political elites would always hesitate to execute effective programmes for their welfare. The growing marginalisation of Dalits and Adivasis from the national discourse has allowed the traditional elites to dominate decision-making process and to neglect the social justice agenda. The future The national political discourse shall revolve around the welfare, security and advancement of the Dalit, Adivasi and Bahujan communities, ensuring their equitable participation in positions of power and privileges. The BJP and the Congress offer a visible space to the idea of social justice in their political manifestos, but overtly hesitate to ensure its appropriate implementation. To actualise the potentials of a social justice agenda, India needs a governing class that is sensitive and committed to the welfare of the marginalised social groups in a substantive manner. Further, there is a crucial need to amplify the Dalit and Adivasi voices for social justice, enabling new movements to drive national discourse for policy reforms. Finally, the social justice discourse needs to move beyond the claim for representation in public institutions and democratic polity. It needs to examine other spheres of power and privileges (like market economy, cultural industry, sports establishments, and so on) which are overtly dominated by the conventional ruling classes. The social justice agenda needs to be applicable to a broader arena of power to make it more diverse and representative through the participation of Dalit, Adivasi and Bahujan groups. Harish S. Wankhede is Assistant Professor, Center for Political Studies, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
