A new report has raised alarm about a troubling rise in student suicide in India. The report, “Student Suicides: An Epidemic Sweeping India,” was released at the Annual IC3 Conference and Expo 2024.
The data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) reveals a worrying trend. While overall suicides in India have grown by 2 percent each year, student suicides have jumped by 4 percent annually. This is double the national average and suggests that the real number of student suicides could be higher due to underreporting.
In 2022, male students made up 53 percent of student suicides. Although suicides among male students decreased by 6 percent from 2021 to 2022, female student suicides rose by 7 percent during the same period. Over the past decade, student suicides have nearly doubled, increasing from 6,654 in 2012 to 13,044 in 2022. This increase comes despite a slight drop in the population of individuals aged 0-24.
Areas Where High Suicide Rates
The report highlights Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh as states with the highest number of student suicides, accounting for one-third of the total. Southern states and union territories make up 29 percent of these cases. Rajasthan, known for its competitive academic environment, ranks 10th, particularly due to the intense pressure in coaching hubs like Kota.
A significant issue pointed out in the report is the underreporting of stu bdent suicides, often due to social stigma and the criminalization of attempted suicides under Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code. Despite the 2017 Mental Healthcare Act, which decriminalizes suicide attempts for those with mental illness, stigma remains a barrier.
Ganesh Kohli, Founder of the IC3 Movement, calls for urgent improvements in mental health support within schools. He emphasizes the need to shift from a focus on competition to prioritizing student well-being through better career and college counseling.
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The report underscores a dramatic rise in student suicides over the past decade, with male suicides up by 50 percent and female suicides by 61 percent. Both genders have seen an average annual increase of 5 percent in recent years, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced counseling services and a deeper understanding of student issues.