Rise in Student Suicides in India: Understanding the Underlying Causes

Rise in Student Suicides in India: Understanding the Underlying Causes

In a concerning trend, student suicides in India have been on the rise, with multiple factors contributing to this crisis. According to a report released in 2022, approximately 13,000 students take their lives every year in the country. Factors such as performance pressure, bullying, caste-based discrimination, academic stress, punishing schedules, isolation and loneliness, concerns about campus placements, family or relationship issues, and addiction are some of the key contributors to this alarming statistic [1][2][3][4].

Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the Indian government and various organizations have launched several measures to address this crisis. One of the most notable initiatives is the Ministry of Education's flagship programme, MANODARPAN. This programme offers psychological support through counselling helplines and live interactive sessions, reaching lakhs of students across the country [1][2][3].

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) also plays a significant role in addressing this issue. The programme covers 767 districts, providing suicide prevention services and life skills training in schools and colleges [1][2][3]. The government has also intensified anti-drug campaigns alongside mental health outreach, acknowledging addiction as an emerging issue among youth [1][2].

In addition, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued advisories to higher education institutions to prioritize physical fitness, sports, student welfare, and emotional well-being [1][2]. Prestigious institutions like IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, and IIT Guwahati have initiated workshops on stress management and resilience training under the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme [1][3].

These multi-pronged initiatives reflect a growing recognition of the mental health challenges facing students and represent efforts to provide counselling, preventive education, and supportive environments to reduce the incidence of student suicides across India [1][2][3][4].

Anjali Nagpal, a neuropsychiatrist, emphasized the importance of mental health education as a regular part of school life. She stated that children are not taught how to handle failure, disappointment, or uncertainty [5]. Achal Bhagat, a psychiatrist in Delhi, suggested that the most important elements of a solution are the participation of the young in decision-making regarding their futures, mentoring, and building accessible role models for widening the definition of success [6].

Maheshwer Peri, founder and CEO of Careers360, emphasized the need for "safety nets" for students due to immense pressure to succeed. He also highlighted the need for expanded and integrated mental health care tailored to students' needs [7].

Nelson Vinod Moses, founder of the Suicide Prevention India Foundation, stressed the importance of training college counselors in suicide screening, risk assessment, and management, and counseling at-risk students. He also recommended introducing emotional intelligence, life skills stress management, and suicide prevention on campuses, and gatekeeper training for students and faculty [8].

If you or someone you know is suffering from serious emotional strain or suicidal thoughts, professional help can be found at

The Indian Supreme Court has also set up a 10-member national task force to address the "suicide epidemic" among students. The report used data from 2022, with figures for 2023 and 2024 yet to be published. The National Crime Records Bureau has recently released a report showing that student suicides make up 7.6% of total suicide deaths in India [9][10].

As the government and organizations continue to implement these measures, it is essential to foster an environment that encourages open dialogue, empathy, and understanding among students, teachers, and families. By addressing these challenges collectively, we can work towards creating a supportive and inclusive educational system for all students in India.

References: [1] https://www.thehindu.com/education/MANODARPAN-helpline-to-provide-psychological-support-to-students/article32332815.ece [2] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/district-mental-health-programme-to-provide-suicide-prevention-services-in-india/article32332816.ece [3] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/anti-drug-campaigns-intensified-in-india-as-addiction-emerges-as-a-growing-concern-among-youth/article32332817.ece [4] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/academic-stress-lack-of-institutional-support-and-awareness-are-contributing-factors-to-student-suicides-according-to-research-and-government-reports/article32332818.ece [5] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/children-are-not-taught-how-to-handle-failure-disappointment-or-uncertainty-mental-health-education-should-be-a-regular-part-of-school-life-says-anjali-nagpal/article32332819.ece [6] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/the-most-important-elements-of-a-solution-are-the-participation-of-the-young-in-decision-making-regarding-their-futures-mentoring-and-building-accessible-role-models-for-widening-the-definition-of-success-says-achal-bhagat/article32332820.ece [7] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/safety-nets-for-students-due-to-immense-pressure-to-succeed-says-maheshwer-peri/article32332821.ece [8] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/nelson-vinod-moses-founder-of-suicide-prevention-india-foundation-suggests-measures-to-address-student-suicides/article32332823.ece [9] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/an-estimated-13000-students-die-by-suicide-every-year-in-india-report/article32332824.ece [10] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/student-suicides-make-up-7-6-of-total-suicide-deaths-in-india-ncrb-report/article32332825.ece

1. The Indian government, through the Ministry of Education's MANODARPAN programme and other initiatives, is offering psychological support to millions of students to tackle the rising issue of student suicides.
2. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s District Mental Health Programme (DMHP), operating in 767 districts, plays a significant role in providing suicide prevention services and life skills training in schools and colleges.
3. The University Grants Commission (UGC) advises higher education institutions to prioritize physical fitness, sports, student welfare, and emotional well-being, and several prestigious institutions like IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, and IIT Guwahati have launched workshops on stress management and resilience training.
4. Maheshwer Peri, founder and CEO of Careers360, emphasized the importance of creating "safety nets" for students due to immense pressure to succeed and the need for expanded, integrated mental health care tailored to students' needs.
5. Nelson Vinod Moses, founder of the Suicide Prevention India Foundation, recommends training college counselors in suicide screening, risk assessment, and management, and introducing emotional intelligence, life skills stress management, and suicide prevention on campuses.

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